Art / News
Dilapidated former hotel could become Bristol’s biggest canvas for artwork
One side of a former hotel near Bristol Temple Meads could be transformed into a regularly changing canvas thanks to an innovative art project.
Now derelict and dilapidated, the Grosvenor was once one of our city’s grandest hotels.
Its glory days could return – at least on the outside – with the art project hoping “to capture the imagination of the city… and make Bristol sing”.
is needed now More than ever
If a planning application for a shroud on the side of the building is approved, the artwork will be installed by Spike Island company Blink Giant Media under the name of Blink Commissions which hope to also use other buildings across the city.
The aim is “to utilise existing large format media sites as spaces for temporary public art” according to the project brief.
“The project will evolve as we explore a number of curatorial, commercial and partnership based approaches to deliver the project.
“The evolving approach will help to keep the story alive as we create a signature arts project and make Bristol sing.”
Measuring 12m x 14m, the public art displays will be funded by commercial advertising shown on the shroud “from time to time”, with one side of the hotel already a space for giant adverts.
The proposal says that the project “will improve the appearance of a longstanding development site in the interim period before an acceptable development proposal is brought forward”.
Main photo: Martin Booth
Read more: Compulsory purchase plan for derelict eyesore at Temple Gate
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