Colourful billboards paint the streets of Bristol to promote wellbeing

Rising Arts Agency are in the thick of their #WhoseFuture campaign launch, with this year’s theme of Care & Wellbeing. This year the emphasis is on the importance of topics such as social justice, economic equity and communal contribution to our overall health and wellness.

From July 12 – August 8, Bristol’s streets are being endowed with 135 colourful billboards created by an artist collective to promote self care and wellness. There are interactive QR codes on the billboards that link to questions such as “What does it mean to demand joy?” and “When was the last time you gave yourself permission, to just be?”, pushing the public to reflect and join the conversation.

Last week Rising held a virtual breakfast to meet with members of the collective to interview them about the campaign.

“Following the success of last years #WhoseFuture campaign, we’re really excited to be empowering more young people and emerging artists to take up space across Bristol by getting their voices heard by showcasing and reflecting the issues that are really important to them,” Euella Jackson, engagement producer at Rising Arts Agency and soon to be co-director says.

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This year’s theme is Care&Wellbeing and we’re not just talking about bath bombs and face masks, we’re really talking about focus on social justice, economic equity and community, and how they play a role in our collective e health and wellness.” Euella Jackson, engagement producer at Rising Arts Agency and soon to be co-director says.

Rising Arts Agency announce 36 artist collective and 135 colourful billboards around the street of Bristol to promote care and wellbeing campaign – Credit: Sophia Harari by Colin Moody / OutOfHand

Rising are adamant in emphasising the importance of rest, with one of their billboards reading “rest is a revolutionary act”. Self-love and mental health are at the forefront of this campaign, the artist collective define what true success is as a community of individuals, separated and connected to their artistry.

“Self love is what success looks like as much as anything else. I believe that rest is part of self-love. You’re not your contributions as determined by an external force; before anything else you are worthy of rest and love from yourself and others,” Tom Dewey, poet and playwright says.

“People don’t like themselves very much, which was certainly the case for me for many years. You get to that place of self-love through thorough self-interrogation so you can trust yourself. You are not one thing, there are multiples going on within yourself that you have to give attention to.”

#WhoseFuture are striving to be a contributing factor to the systemic changes made in the city, making it a place that can be a home for everyone.

“I think a city that cares is one that puts those things in place that makes life liveable, affordable housing for example. Bristol tends to have a problem with making sure that the people that live here are cared for. If you don’t have that in place then how can you do the other things that bring you joy, or just allow you to breathe?” Rosa ter Julie, Bristol women’s mural collective founder says.

“Demand Joy” is one of the statements on the city’s billboards to emphasise community care, social justice and economic equity. Credit: Artist Collective by Colin Moody / OutOfHand

“There is a critical mass that genuinely do want change, and that’s what this campaign’s about. Hopefully people will see the statements and will realise there’s a language for what they’ve been mulling over, that they’ll demand more from their jobs, landlords or whatever it is and that’ll make the change in the system. Hopefully the time will finally come when we boldly say no.” says Jess Bunyan, artist and soft sculptor.

Rising are encouraging the public to get involved with the various events organised for this year’s campaign including online discussions and wellbeing walks in different areas of the city. Art is also up for sale with pieces from the artist collective who are encouraging the public to “pay young creatives.”

Shop the campaign here.

Main photo by Colin Moody / OutOfHand

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