£1 million investment in a Pop Ups programme of events, installations and visitor attractions designed to promote city centre visits from residents and visitors.
As part of Preston's £20.9 million Towns Fund investment, the city received £1 million in accelerated funding from the government to help places "build back better" in the wake of Covid-19.
The funding has been used to deliver the Harris Quarter Pop Ups programme. The programme strongly aligns with ambitions for the cultural regeneration of the Harris Quarter and is helping to develop the Preston Markets area as a safe space street food zone with pop up events and performance spaces linked to activity in the city's other public spaces.
Pop-Ups Programme projects
Wallace and Gromit Bench Sculpture
Celebrating the success of Preston-born Nick Park, and the iconic Wallace and Gromit duo he created, a bronze bench featuring the famous characters has been sculptured. The new Prestonian landmark stands pride of place outside the entrance to Preston Markets and is a unique focal point for visitors to the Harris Quarter.
The MET - Mobile Events Tent
The MET, which stands for Mobile Event Tent, is a unique mobile tent for arts and cultural events in the city centre and its communities. With enough space for an audience of up to 100 people, the tent provides continued provision for cultural events and attractions in the city while Preston recovers from the pandemic. The MET is a fresh addition to Preston's cultural offer and attracts people from across the region.
Preston City Council is highly conscious of the fact that Preston has the longest line of historic red telephone boxes (designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott) in the UK - they are a fabulous landmark that we are very proud to celebrate.
Under private ownership the telephone boxes fell into disrepair. An opportunity arose in 2021 for the council to acquire them, using Government Towns Deal funding, and we are currently looking to secure sufficient resources to enable a full restoration of the phone boxes, protecting them for future generations, but so that they can also be used as a location for future art installations and displays.
Preston Street Murals
Led by talented local artists, this exciting project is seeing selected city centre buildings creatively transformed with colourful, inspiring and thought-provoking murals, bringing high-quality street art to Preston.
Animate Street Hoardings
Designed by local design studio Wash, hoardings have been installed around the old market site to provide visual interest while construction work is undertaken on the Animate cinema and leisure project. Another project that is promoting Preston's creativity to both residents and visitors to the city.
