Artswork, the youth-focused charity that empowers young people through creativity, is seeking Isle of Wight-based artists for 2 exciting commissions that aim to transform the look and feel of Sandown.
As part of its Young Cultural Changemakers programme – funded by Arts Council England with additional support from Sandown Town Council – a total of £14,000 is being offered for one or more artists to take up a residency at The Bay CE School and Forest Edge School from October 2025 to March 2026.
One of the major outcomes of this project will be the repainting of the prominent murals at the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary on Sandown seafront – a site seen by thousands of visitors each year.
A second commission, worth £5,000, invites artists to work with students from Lionheart School to create a new installation at Sandown Railway Station. The initiative is part of a wider Artswork project funded by South Western Railway’s Customer and Communities Improvement Fund (CCIF), aimed at improving the station’s appearance, reducing anti-social behaviour and instilling pride in public spaces.
Students will explore the history of rail travel and engage in conversations with older members of the community as part of the creative process.
Peta Rainford, placemaking creative producer for Artswork on the Isle of Wight, said:
“These are both really exciting opportunities for local creatives to work with young people to make a real difference to Sandown. Our aim is to promote community cohesion and increase pride in Sandown, whilst supporting the students involved to develop new skills, increasing their confidence, self esteem and connection to community.”
Applications for both opportunities are open now and must be submitted by the first week of September.
More information can be found at https://artswork.org.uk/youth-led-projects/young-cultural-changemakers/isle-of-wight-changemakers.
It will take more than a few artists to spruce up
Sandown.
Time to demolish the derelict hotels and stop
vehicles parking on pavements in Sandown.
“Parking on Pavements is rife in Sandown”
Outside the old tourist information centre opposite the Pier.
Culver Way and Avenue Road.
Where are IW Council Civil Enforcement Officers, or do they
turn a blind eye to such parking!!
The island makes me laugh, they have the cheek to charge
persons to park their vehicles, yet so many numpties park
free of charge on pavements every day of the year.
FREE OF CHARGE
Lol
The usual cracked record keeps going round and round. Why not say something positive for once? No doubt your idea of art is a tin of magnolia
It’s a shame people like yourself don’t like to
hear the truth
Bless you
Self-important idiot who everyone is bored with
Well apparently what we need is more graffiti!
Anything is better than what Sandown currently
looks like.