A York art firm has been commissioned to design a mural for Front Street in Acomb, seeing off competition from across the globe.
Art of Protest was chosen for the project, backed by £38,000, after City of York Council received 11 proposals for the mural set for Front Street as part of wider regeneration efforts.
The company is set to work with people in the area to draw up designs for the mural, according to a council report on the decision to award the commission.
The report stated the call for designs attracted interest from around the world, with Art of Protest chosen after scoring highly on its proposed ideas for the mural.
It follows the approval of proposals for the regeneration of Front Street in September ahead of a March deadline to spend Government funding which is financing the works.
The regeneration has been backed by £570,000 from the council’s £5.1m UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) pot, with the Government able to claw back any unspent money after March.
The works are also set to see 90 of the 131 bollards in Front Street removed following a backlash after their installation in January 2023.
They are set to be replaced with planters and widened crossings as part of works which began in October and are set to last until February.
Councillors heard in September that the council was in talks with local artists to design the mural.
There were calls at the time to use local artists rather than hiring ones from outside of York.
It is set to mark a new gateway to Front Street and the design will reflect the wider area, according to the council report on the commission.
Eight benches are also set to be refurbished by Art of Protest along with the painting of the mural.
The report on the council’s decision stated both projects would cost an estimated £34,770, with £38,000 allocated to cover any unforeseen changes.