New Crewe Art Trail launches with weekend of workshops and activities!

The Crewe Art Trail will officially launch on the weekend of Friday 14th – Sunday 16th February and all are welcome to come along and get involved! The Art Trail has been delivered by Crewe Town Council, with funding awarded from the central government UKSPF fund.

A series of creative and practical workshops will take place throughout the weekend to showcase the new artworks, enable people to meet the artists and learn new skills. Visitors to the event will be able to create colourful ‘Peace Patterns’, craft clay tile designs to take home, embroider textiles and discover how to design their own murals.

The workshops and activities are FREE and open to all, no experience or existing skills required – everyone is encouraged to come along and have a go!

Crewe Art Trail Launch Weekend Workshops and Activities

• Creative Social: Art Trail Launch (Friday 14th February, 5pm – 7pm) at the Crewe//Makes ArtSpace, Victoria Street, CW1 2HF
• Stitching Together: Collective Embroidery Workshop with Vanessa Marr (Saturday 15th February, 10am – 12.30pm) at Crewe Library, CW1 2BB (recommended for ages 10+)
• Clay Tile Making Workshop with Carrie Reichardt (Saturday 15th February, 11am – 2pm) at the Crewe//Makes ArtSpace, Victoria Street, CW1 2HF
• Mural Design Workshop with Akse P19 (Sunday 16th February, 11am – 2pm) at Crewe Market Hall, CW1 2BL
• Peace Patterns Workshop: Design and Collage with Cherie Grist (Sunday 16th February, 11am – 2pm) at the Crewe//Makes ArtSpace, Victoria Street, CW1 2HF (suitable for all ages)
• Making Crewe: Art and Heritage Walking Tours with Ben Wye (Saturday 15th February, 3pm & Sunday 16th February, 11.30am) starts at the Britannia War Memorial on Memorial Square, CW1 2BJ

New artwork commissions

Four new permanent artworks have been commissioned for the Crewe Art Trail from artists across the UK:

• ‘Re-Making Crewe’ mural by Cherie Grist (2024) on High Street with creative input from several local youth organisations
• ‘Stitching Together: Women of Crewe’ artwork installation (2024) on display at Crewe Library, facilitated by Vanessa Marr and created by the women of Crewe
• ‘We Make Crewe’ ceramic mural (2025) located on Lyceum Square, created by Carrie Reichardt with contributions from the Crewe community and local organisations
• ‘Making Crewe’ (2025) by Akse P19, which will be located on the Crewe Town Council Building

The Crewe Art Trail in numbers

• Over 90 members of the local community took part in over 30 consultation meetings, interviews and co-design workshops to develop a theme and principles
• 332 young people and local creatives have taken part in 19 workshops and co-creation projects
• 260 free DIY embroidery kits have been given to participants to take part in the Stitching Together Project
• 2 podcasts created
• 4 new permanent public artworks in Crewe Town Centre have been commissioned by artists from across the UK
• 14 art works, projects, displays and exhibitions by local artists and organisations will be celebrated as part of the trail featuring a diverse range of skills and mediums including sculpture, painting, photography, film, print making, collage, textiles and more!

Crewe Town Council has been awarded central government UKSPF funding to deliver an Arts Development Project and Art Trail between February 2024 and March 2025, consolidating the Town Council’s commitment to developing arts and culture within the town. The trail will be displayed in accessible locations throughout Crewe for residents and visitors alike to enjoy.

Centred around the theme Making Crewe, the Art Trail pays tribute to the town’s history of making, its prominent figures and also celebrates the communities who make Crewe what it is today.

The Crewe Art Trail will lay the foundations required for future delivery of public art in Crewe and will contribute to the development of Crewe’s cultural scene.

Find out more about the UKSPF funded Arts Development Project and Crewe Art Trail here.

A spokesperson for Crewe Town Council said: “We are thrilled to launch the Crewe Art Trail, a vibrant celebration of creativity that invites residents and visitors alike to explore the town in a new light. The initiative not only showcases incredible local talents but also fosters community spirit, whilst enhancing our shared public spaces.
The project has set the foundations for future delivery of public art in Crewe through valuable community consultation and skills building. We encourage everyone to discover and enjoy the rich tapestry of culture that Crewe has to offer across the launch weekend and beyond!”