When your city is held-up as a stage for art, culture and transformation, then it’s amazing the difference colour can make.
For Crown Paints, Hull’s status as the UK City of Culture 2017 has provided a national and international platform to showcase its colour expertise and celebrate the transformational power of culture.
Crown Paints has been manufacturing paints in Hull for more than 200 years and has a long history of employment in the region, with almost 200 people working at its Sculcoates Lane manufacturing site and at Crown Decorating Centres located in and around the city.
This expertise, pride and passion for the city has led Crown Paints, in its capacity as a Hull 2017 Business Partner, to add colour to a range of eye-catching projects, which will leave a lasting impact on the region.
Ellis Mudd, Site Manager at Crown Paints Hull manufacturing centre, said: “As a company, we are all so proud of Hull and its achievements in this landmark year.
“It’s been a superb project for us to be involved in and we are delighted to be playing a part.”
One project which showcases the power and beauty of shade is the World’s Favourite Colour initiative, carried out by paper makers G. F Smith with help from design agency Made Thought to celebrate Hull UK City of Culture.
An international audience was asked what the world’s favourite colour was and 30,000 submissions were received from more than 100 countries via an online poll.
A rich teal shade was selected as the global favourite and to celebrate the colour choice, which has been named Marrs Green, a pop-up shop exhibition was set-up in the heart of Hull to showcase the stunning colour.
A range of exhibits were put on display in the specific hue, and Crown Paints provided the perfect backdrop for the display, colour matching the Marrs Green shade in Crown Trade Clean Extreme Scrubbable Matt to decorate the environment.
Exhibitions are a key feature in the Hull 2017 programme and a hub for contemporary art has been the Humber Street Gallery, which champions the area’s thriving visual arts scene and reinforces the message that contemporary arts and culture are for everyone.
Again, Crown has provided a picture-perfect backdrop for the exhibition space, with Crown Trade Clean Extreme Scrubbable Matt used throughout the building to create a high-performance backdrop to the display.
Hull’s year as the UK City of Culture is also about promoting art and creativity in the community.
One such occasion has been the discovery and return of The Gold Nose of Green Ginger to Hull.
Temporarily housed for two months in North Point Shopping Centre, the famous Gold Nose – a historic gold object in the shape of a nose, unearthed 50 years ago during the construction of the Bransholme estate – was on display for shoppers and visitors to view until mid-August.
Alongside displaying The Nose, the space was also used for a range of nose-themed creative workshops and activities, with visitors encouraged to leave a wish for The Gold Nose of Green Ginger to work its legendary magic.
Crown Paints created a fun-filled, special space in a range of pastel shades to support the display of The Nose.
Again, Crown Trade Clean Extreme Scrubbable Matt was used to ensure the busy centre retained its good looks, with the product’s stain resistant qualities providing a truly durable finish.
Jade Wasling, The Nose Guardian at The Gold Nose of Green Ginger, said; “The colours created a wonderful environment. The children particularly enjoyed the way the shades influence a magical sense of space.”
Finally, one of the most striking projects involving Crown Paints takes art outdoors, with huge murals in the historic old fishing area of Hessle Road putting colour, heritage and a passion for the city firmly on the map.
Sandtex Trade masonry paint – part of the Crown Paints’ family – has been used to create two end of terrace house murals, which celebrate the community’s rich fishing history.
Installed as part of the Hull 2017’s second season, Roots & Routes, the Terrace Enders project has involved a team of professional artists creating meaningful images of Hull’s fishing industry, its allied industries and the communities they sustained.
The project has been developed by local community-led social enterprise the Goodwin Development Trust, along with the residents of Hessle Road, and funded by Hull 2017’s Creative Communities Programme in partnership with the Big Lottery Fund.
Representing a wonderful addition to the city streetscape, the murals will leave a lasting legacy for the city.
Look carefully and there’s also a recognition of Crown’s involvement, with a painted crown featured in the imagery.
Sharon Darley, Goodwin Trust Quality Manager, said: “The paint means everything to us. We’ve been able to create a big splash of the city’s personality. We could not have done this without the generosity of Crown Paints.”
Louise Babych, Development Manager at Hull 2017, said: “Half-way through this incredible year we’re already seeing the positive impact the programme is having on the city and its communities.
“Our partners are fundamental in this success and it has been wonderful to see the colourful contribution Crown Paints has had on the programme and the city as a whole. We’re delighted to have them on board.”
