Category: Public Art Project

Channels Public Art Update

As previously reported, Chelmsford City Council secured funding to enable the design and integration of public art into the Channels Development, with the aim of enhancing the character and identity of the development.

The general concept will be a giant mammoth rising up out of the ground which ties in with the preferred Ice Age theme and local geology in an original way. The proposed location is the bottom end of Channels Park.

Following a brief delay, the artist (Michael Condron) has advised of the following programme for the fabrication and installation of the Mammoth Sculpture to the park at Channels:

  • Late March: Commence fabrication
  • May: Fabrication 50% complete
  • June/July: Prepare foundation
  • July/August: Install sculpture, finish landscaping.

A detailed document that explains the context and work undertaken so far can be found HERE.

Public Art Update

As previously reported, Chelmsford City Council secured funding to enable the design and integration of public art into the Channels Development, with the aim of enhancing the character and identity of the development.

The project has now reached the stage of a formal planning submission 22/01621/FUL which the local population can comment on. You may have seen yellow notices appear around Channels Park in the last week.

The artist felt it was important to differentiate the style of sculpture with existing public art in the area. The general concept will be a giant mammoth rising up out of the ground which ties in with the preferred Ice Age theme and local geology in an original way. The proposed location is the bottom end of Channels Park as shown in the planning documents.

For ease of access to all of the planning documents (the City Council Planning Portal can be slow at times), these can be found on the CRCG Google Drive account HERE.

A key document to review is the detailed statement that explains the context and work undertaken to reach this stage which can be found HERE.

The City Council has posted an update on their website HERE.


The deadline for comments to the planning submission via the City Council Planning Portal is 14th October.

Channels Art Project Event

Discover how time has shaped the place you live!

Further to the update last week, residents are invited to join a walking tour of Channels to learn about the history of where we live from 1pm on Monday 2nd May followed by a ‘hands on’ art workshop with the artist Michael Condron from 2pm. Representatives from GeoEssex will also be in attendance with their specimens and knowledge on full display.

The meeting point will be at the Channels Brasserie front gates (What3Words: buddy.voter.crown):

For those that can’t join the walking tour at 1pm but want to join the art workshop from 2pm, this will be taking place in the Brenda Rose Suite (upstairs) at the Channels Brasserie.

Please do get involved to ensure that the art proposals truly reflect the identity of the area. The input you give to the workshop will form part of the final art that will be on display!

Channels Art: Community Engagement Session

The artist that has been commissioned to develop public art for the Channels development is planning to hold a ‘hands on’ community engagement session on Bank Holiday Monday 2nd May. It has been difficult to secure a date however it is hoped that holding the session on a Bank Holiday might attract more family involvement.

For the event, the artist would like to run a hands-on workshop where participants make artworks by arranging small stones in clay or playdough and representatives from GeoEssex will also be in attendance with their specimens and knowledge on full display.

The provisional plan (which will be dependent on venue availability) is to begin with a walking tour of Channels at 10am so that attendees can learn more about the history of the site with the hands-on workshops beginning at circa 11am.

If demand is high, the artist can schedule additional workshop sessions during the afternoon and if the weather is fine, it may be possible to undertake sessions outside where passers-by can drop in and get involved.

For now, make a note of the date, Bank Holiday Monday 2nd May, and further details will be posted over the next few days.

As a reminder the Project Brief can be viewed or downloaded for information.

The website for the artist can be found at http://mcondron.co.uk/ and he would also like to keep in touch with a circle of residents who would like to remain involved/updated with the public art project.

It is important that as many residents as possible get involved to ensure that the art proposals truly reflect the identity of the area so do please join in with the ongoing community engagement. 🙂

Channels Art: Resident Engagement

Resident Engagement Session
Thursday 10th March, 7.00pm via Zoom

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88150918585?pwd=TTA2WTFPdWoyRWQwWWFOM2xHYzhYdz09

Meeting ID: 881 5091 8585
Passcode: 700586

Chelmsford City Council have secured funding to enable the design and integration of public art into the Channels Development, with the aim of enhancing the character and identity of the development – making this a unique and inspiring place of which the local community can be proud.

The CRCG is part of the Public Art Steering Group and we have agreed to arrange an initial online engagement session so that residents can meet the artist and provide feedback as to how the project should progress. The Project Brief can be viewed or downloaded for information.

The session will provide an opportunity for the artist, Michael Condron, to introduce himself and share his thoughts. A representative from GeoEssex will also give a short presentation on “Ice Age Channels” to set the scene as this is will be the general theme for the artwork.

There is information on this website about the local history of Channels and the website for the artist can be found at http://mcondron.co.uk/.

It is important that as many residents as possible get involved during the consultation period to ensure that the art proposals truly reflect the identity of the area and so that we can all take ownership, pride and care in the artwork and associated public open spaces.

Channels Art Project

Chelmsford City Council have secured funding to enable the design and integration of public art into the Channels Development, with the aim of enhancing the character and identity of the development – making this a unique and inspiring place of which the local community can be proud.

The project kicked off in March 2020 but due to COVID issues, it has been on hold for the last year. The project has now re-started and proposals will be developed over the coming months based on comprehensive public and stakeholder consultation.

The CRCG is part of the Public Art Steering Group and key information will be passed onto residents accordingly to ensure everyone is kept up to date. The Project Brief can be viewed or downloaded for information and all residents are encouraged to get involved as part of the consultation later in the year.

It is important that as many residents as possible get involved during the consultation period to ensure that the art proposals truly reflect the identity of the area and so that we can all take ownership, pride and care in the artwork and associated public open spaces.

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