A beloved mural celebrating north-east heroes will be extended after funding was secured.
Aberdeen Inspired has received a contribution from Aberdeen City Council’s Creative Funding programme to add to the Everyday Heroes mural, which was relocated earlier this year to Flourmill Lane.
Now the organisation is appealing to the public to nominate local heroes to be incorporated into the mural, which was originally created during the 2018 Nuart Aberdeen festival.
The project aimed to highlight Aberdonians who have contributed to the life of the city or society as a whole. The initial project was led by craft practitioner and artist Carrie Reichardt, with the hope that the artwork would be continued in future years.
The mural includes heroes such as footballer Dennis Law, award winning percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie and honoured equally inspiring local people such as headteacher Caroline Thomson, a hugely influential educator who impacted greatly on her pupils throughout her life.
Local artist and skilled ceramist Shelagh Swanson, who led the reinstallation of the mural in April, will oversee the work due to be carried out in early November.
All nominations made by the public will be put forward to a judging panel including Shelagh, Aberdeen Inspired and Nuart Aberdeen presenting partners Burness Paull and the McGinty’s Group Scotland, who will select six new Everyday Heroes. Members of the public who nominated the chosen heroes will also be given the opportunity to help produce the artwork honouring them.
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “Everyday Heroes is a huge part of our local legacy and it is a work that has special meaning for many people in Aberdeen. As soon as the original project was launched in 2018 and then again when it was relocated, it was clear that there is tremendous enthusiasm, pride and curiosity about it.
“We are delighted that this project can be continued thanks to funding from Aberdeen City Council. Now it is over to the public to make their local hero nominations and we would like to encourage people, of all ages, across the city and wider north-east to come forward with their Everyday Hero suggestions.”
Councillor Marie Boulton, Aberdeen City Council’s culture spokesperson, said: “Everyday Heroes has been warmly received and is a fitting tribute to individuals who have had a positive impact on the city and its residents in so many different ways. We are delighted to be supporting the next stage of the project through the Creative Funding programme and would encourage nominations from across our communities.”
Nominees must have lived or worked in Aberdeen for part of their life and can be someone famous or known only to a few, living or dead. The deadline for all nominations is 1 October 2019.
To make a nomination and for more information, please click here