Displaying from now until April 2023, German artist Lothar Götz has transformed the area around No. 1 Station Approach next to Hereford Railway Station.
Götz has made two monumental and vibrant geometric artworks that are displayed on each end of Hereford College of Arts (HCA) and NMiTE’s new student accommodation. A number of dazzling flags designed by the artist are also be sited by No. 1 Station Approach. The artworks mark the start of a new cultural gateway to Hereford, welcoming visitors and enriching residents’ experience of the city.
UK-based Götz’s intervention is the first of four new bold commissions of public artwork at the site over four years. The No. 1 Station Approach installation is one of fourteen projects in Hereford that have been made possible thanks to a successful £22.4million funding bid to the Stronger Towns Fund.
“Public art is a wonderful way to signal and celebrate the present and future creativity of our city. I am thrilled that we are kicking off the delivery of Hereford’s visionary Town Investment Plan with a work of such boldness and vibrancy.”
Abigail Appleton Principal of Hereford College of Arts and #StrongerHereford Chair
“I believe having such eye-catching public art in prominent place – a gateway into city – is inspirational, hopefully sparking creativity and more contemporary public art. Art helps us reflect on who we are and who we want to be. I am incredibly proud that Hereford towns Fund bid has been able to support this work.”
Lauren Rogers said: #StrongerHereford Board member
An associated engagement programme will reach out to residents, visitors, students, artists as well as the wider community to stimulate debate and showcase Hereford as a cultural destination.
“Having Lothar Götz’s intervention to launch the Cultural Gateway commissions is a great honour and a wonderful opportunity for Hereford.”
Anne de Charmant, Artistic Director of Meadow Arts
Götz’s work, typically large-scale paintings, drawings and installations that respond to existing structures have included commissions for South Bank Centre, London (2014); Leeds Art Gallery (2017) and most recently the Towner Art Gallery in Eastbourne (2019) to much acclaim. He is a master in the use of colours, and it is appropriate that his work, which celebrates the great Modernist tradition of the Bauhaus, the influential 1920-30s German art school, should be displayed on a building that hosts art students.
Meadow Arts is an inspirational contemporary art organisation delivering ambitious and accessible projects in unexpected, often rural places.
Born in a meadow in 2001, Meadow Arts has evolved to become an important part of the creative landscape in the west of the West Midlands region, collaborating with a variety of significant partners and host locations. Having no venue of its own, Meadow Arts collaborates with highly regarded heritage buildings, historic sites, museums, universities, landscapes and public spaces. Working in partnership with other organisations is an intrinsic part of what we do. This allows us to reach a wide audience, often new to the contemporary visual arts, in areas where few other opportunities exist.
Meadow Arts is a registered charity and an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. It is supported using public funding by Arts Council England and receives funding from other Trusts and Foundations.
Hereford College of Arts (HCA) is a true art school, and the only college in the Midlands offering a specialist approach to arts education at college level, degree level and MA – as well as a range of short courses. Our scale has allowed us to build a supportive, creative community on campus – and gives students the time and flexibility to develop their talents, whatever direction they them in.
About #StrongerHereford
The Stronger Towns Fund was launched by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in 2019. It is a £1.6 billion fund targeted at towns to create new jobs, help train local people and boost growth in parts of the country that have not shared in the growth of the UK economy over recent years.
#StrongerHereford, an independent Town’s Fund board for Hereford city made up of a blend of people from private, public and community sectors working in collaboration with Herefordshire Council and Hereford City Council., put forward a bid for £25 million to Government in January 2021 and secured £22.4 million later that year to put towards the assigned projects outlines in their Town Investment Plan.
There are 14 projects that have been selected to receive funding in Hereford. These all support the #StrongerHereford vision of five core long-term imperatives: Greenest, Fairest, Creative, Digital and Connected.
For a full list of projects visit www.strongerhereford.co.uk/town-investment-plan-for-hereford-revealed/