Artwork made from 160 residents’ drawings on display in Newark

A piece of artwork that features more than 160 drawings from Newark residents has been installed as part of the construction wall around 32 Stodman Street in the town centre.

The Community Art Gallery @ 32 was an art initiative that invited Newark residents of all ages to draw what they love most about their town and have the chance to see their artwork featured on the new hoarding.

Councillor Paul Peacock, Leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council, said:
“This was an opportunity for local people to express their creativity and celebrate the beauty and diversity of Newark by drawing what they love about the area.

“A staggering 169 entries in total were received from Newark residents, from primary school age and beyond. The standard of drawings was just so high that I’m pleased to say we’ve been able to include them all as part of the final, colourful design for the construction wall, which truly reflects the spirit of our town. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this inspiring piece.”

Designs for the construction wall have gone up this week ahead of work beginning to transform the former M&S building into an exciting hub comprising 29 high-quality homes and retail units in the heart of Newark. The project is being led by Newark and Sherwood District Council alongside Newark Town Board.

Without intervention, the prominent building could have fallen into disrepair, particularly after a search to find new tenants resulted in no interest in the existing large unit.

By splitting the unit up as planned, the building will go from being abandoned to becoming a thriving and active area where living, working, and shopping come together.

Complete construction partner Stepnell, which is well-established with more than 155 years’ heritage in the industry, is undertaking the initial phase and mobilisation of the work.

Tom Sewell, Regional Director at Stepnell, said:
“As we commence the transformation works at Stodman Street, the Community Art Gallery @ 32 will not only provide a visually pleasing view of the site under construction but also represent the project’s commitment to placing the community front and centre.

“In partnership with Newark and Sherwood District Council, we are continuing to strive towards delivering enormous value for the area through local spend and job opportunities, and this will remain vital to the development’s future impact through the next phase of construction.”

Construction work is due to begin soon, with the project completion date expected to be in 2026.