Salisbury is to become a Window Wanderland this autumn!
Salisbury BID and Wiltshire Creative are organising this unique art gallery to bring a little magic and light to the city as the nights get darker.
Window Wanderland is a project for the whole community, started in Bristol in 2015 and is now seen across the country. This year it arrives in Salisbury for the first time kindly supported through funding from Wiltshire Council and event support from Salisbury City Council.
A Window Wanderland design from a previous UK event
Salisbury’s event will run from 4th to 7th November 2021, when windows across the city will be decorated with imaginative designs. It will celebrate the diversity in our city by drawing on the themes of Diwali, Festival of Lights of triumph over darkness, happiness and positivity. This event is being developed with the Nepalese Society of Salisbury to develop the displays as well as presenting an evening of cultural dancing at the Guildhall to launch the event. Find more information about the launch event here.
Sabita Sharma, Chairperson of the Nepalese Society of Salisbury said: "This is the perfect time to celebrate Window Wanderland and Diwali. The festival is all about light triumphing over darkness, very much like our fight against Covid over the last couple of years. It’s going to give a positive message. It’s about victory over evil, lights colour and bringing families together.
“We are very excited to bring our culture and heritage to the people of Salisbury. During our evening of dance and music we are going to wear our traditional clothes so it’s going to be a good night.”
Most of the window designs have been created through workshops organised by Wiltshire Creative’s Take Part Programme. They have worked closely with local community groups and schools to produce imaginative designs that will fill business windows across the city centre. The workshops have been led by artists Alex Hoare, Michele Millidge, Francesca McLean, who have also created their own pieces on the Window Wanderland trail.
The Window Wanderland design being created by St Martin's school for Salisbury high street
Find a map of where the windows are by clicking here.
The Window Wandlerland project has brought the community together. Here is more information about the businesses where you can find the window designs, and the groups who produced the decorations:
You can find the designs at:
- Salisbury Guildhall
- Sonder Coffee - Created by Mind The Gap at Wiltshire Creative. Mind the Gap are a group of older people who meet at Salisbury Playhouse to explore the creative arts. The group meet fortnightly for coffee, conversation and creativity. They worked with Michele Millidge to create their piece for Sonder Coffee
- Julia’s House charity shop - The Art Department at Leehurst Swan School collaborated to produce artwork for Julia's House
- The Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum
- Phase Eight - St Andrew’s CE Primary School Years 2, 3, 4 and 6 worked with Michele Millidge to create their artwork for Phase Eight, inspired by the school’s ethos of honesty, respect and love.
- Personnel Placements - Sarum Academy Years 7, 8 and 10 worked with Francesca McLean to create their artwork, inspired by Diwali, happiness and positivity.
- Timber Treasures
- Goldsmiths
- Old Ale & Coffee House - Rise 61 and Salisbury City Council Community Team: The Friary Art Club, Bemerton Heath Kaleidoscope, Bemerton Heath After School Club. All of these groups contributed individual panes to this eclectic Diwali-inspired window display at the Old Ale and Coffee House, with support from Francesca McLean.
- Southons Of Salisbury - Creative Collective at Wiltshire Creative is an inclusive group for young adults to explore the creative arts. They worked with Michele Millidge to create a design for the main window at Southon of Salisbury, inspired by rangoli patterns. South Wilts Mencap’s “Our Club”, created the artwork for the side panels.
- JASHairGroup
- Bishops Mill - Created by ArtCare, the arts service for Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust at Salisbury District Hospital.
- Salisbury Library - Army Welfare Service, Tidworth created these artworks to celebrate Diwali and were made in collaboration with Michele Millidge by the Tidworth Nepalese Elderly Craft group, alongside members of other groups from the AWS's community support and youth service.
- Purlins - Elizabeth House is a charity providing services for people with learning disabilities and mental health issues. Clients worked with Francesca McLean to create a night-and-day themed artwork for Purlins.
- Raffinee
- Neals Yard Remedies
- Allum & Sidaway
- Salisbury Playhouse
- HSBC UK
- Richmond Bell Architects
- Oxfam - Avon Valley Academy. Students in year 7 and year 9 worked with Francesca McLean to produce artwork for individual panes, inspired by Diwali, happiness and positivity.
- Hair @ 46
- Mencap
- 41-43 High Street - Year 5 students at St Martin’s worked with Alex Hoare to create their artwork which is on display in the bay window. Wiltshire College Foundation Studies students worked with Alex Hoare to create their artwork which is on display in the picture window.
- Fone Revive - Exeter House School pupils worked together to create artwork based on things that make them happy – road signs, sharks and Forky appear.
- Botanic Folk
- Fletcher and Partners
- Bradley-Birt hairdressing
- Lewbell Antiques
- Old George Mall offices, High Street
Our thanks also to the artists who have led all the workshops to create these amazing designs.
Francesca McLean: Francesca is an illustrator and designer based in Woodfalls on the edge of the New Forest. Since graduating with an MA in Illustration in 2016, she has been working across the arts running workshops with local institutions. Alongside this Francesca works as a freelance Illustrator, as well as designing her own range of illustrated products.
Artists planning the window designs
Alex Hoare: Artist Alex Hoare works with glass to create art installations, interventions and handcrafted objects, alongside facilitating workshops and projects with cultural organisations, individuals and community groups. She has 20 years’ experience working as an artist in a variety of creative disciplines, including kilnformed glass, scenography, art installation, performance, textiles and arts administration. Her work is strongly influenced by her background in scenography observing how experience can be altered and enhanced when colour, light, objects and sound are carefully curated together. Reoccuring themes in her work include creation of moments of contemplation and calm, and observing how glass alters and intervenes in our experience of the world.
Michele Millidge: Michele has lived and worked in Salisbury for the past 14 years, having trained in Textile Design at Winchester and then gaining her PGCE in Brighton. She has a passion for facilitating arts and crafts in the community and has worked with many School and Community groups locally. You may have seen her work around the city centre as she is often out decorating windows.