Project

Balconies Reimagined YMCA Redditch

The Concept

YMCA Worcestershire and residents at its Gordon Anstis House accommodation, in Knowle Close, Redditch, wanted to brighten and rejuvenate the building’s tired and tatty exterior balconies, which face the main road.

Staff, residents and community members alike wanted to make the place they live more vibrant, exciting and inspiring, and they wanted to boost wellbeing and pride.

Cue ‘Paint the town Redditch’, our broad programme of public art, which is creating and installing physical and digital artworks across the Borough of Redditch. (The Redditch Colour Palette giant mural is the flagship and first artwork through Paint the Town Redditch).

Partnership with YMCA Worcestershire

Reimagine Redditch and YMCA Worcestershire joined in partnership to respond to this need and the desire of the community in Churchill.

Together, we would commission an artist to co-create vibrant new murals for the balconies, inspired by the Redditch Colour Palette. The artist would work with staff, residents and community members to co-create the new pieces, so would need to be a truly socially engaged practitioner.

Artist – Thomas Cross (tomxarts)

We needed an artist with a distinctive combination of skills and experience, a strong visual storyteller with an ability to help communities express what matters most to them.

Thomas Cross – tomxarts – fit the bill and was commissioned as lead artist for the project. Tom specialises in co-created community projects across hospitals, libraries, and theatres.

His skill, personality and style of communication and collaboration helps participants feel at ease, regardless of their skill or experience level.

Creative workshops with residents and community

Over several open workshops led by local artist Tom Cross, residents, YMCA staff, and community members came together to share their stories, thoughts, and reflections on what YMCA Worcestershire means to them.

From these honest and inspiring conversations, a deep sense of togetherness emerged — one that has been beautifully brought to life in a bold piece of public art.

Objectives of the Project 

Pride of Place – enhance the visual landscape of the area, providing a permanent reminder of what can be achieved when people come together with shared purpose and creative ideas.

Symbolic – stand at the front of the YMCA accommodation as a vibrant symbol of belonging, unity, and the voices of local residents.

Values – embody the YMCA’s core values of inclusion and transformation.

Connection – connect (visually and symbolically) to other community artworks across the town.

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