Rotherham High Street transformed!

Urban Canvas, "official" graffiti artists from Nottingham, have completely masked the four boarded-up units on the High Street that have remained empty since private-sector owners of businesses such as Fabric Forum left more than eight years ago.

The Council's director of Planning and Regeneration, Paul Woodcock, said: "For years these units have been neglected by their previous owner and it's great to see them so dramatically improved by the artwork. The long term plan will be to bring them back into use, however until this is achieved it is important to improve the appearance of this part of the town centre."

Artists Anthony Donnelly and Peter Barber of Urban Canvas consulted heavily with the neighbouring businesses on what the design for the piece should be, and popular symbols such as the Corn Law Rhymer are included.

Peter Barber said: "We wanted the piece to reflect what the people wanted who have to look at those empty shops every day. We've had a lot of fun creating the piece, getting to know Rotherham business people and talking to members of the public who have passed by and taken a huge interest in the work."

The work forms part of the Council's Meanwhile Project, led by its Business & Retail Development Team, in partnership with Rotherham Open Arts Renaissance (ROAR), which aims to bring life and footfall back by improving the look of vacant units throughout the town centre.

The next Meanwhile Project will begin within the Old Market building on Corporation Street, when it transforms into a hub of creativity. Rotherham Culture Company, in partnership with Open Minds Theatre Company, will be exhibiting impressive pictures from local graffiti artist Phlegm, testament to the creative explosion hitting Rotherham town centre.

There will be free art exhibitions in the space, presenting the work of local prominent and emerging artists. Rotherham Open Arts Forum's 2010 A Place of Meeting art exhibition will open on Wednesday September 1 as a FREE space allowing the Rotherham community to experience the work of at least eight local artists for the whole of September.