Red Contemporary Arts is launching its REDboard project for Hull UK City of Culture 2017 with a billboard designed by Hull-based artist Yol on Cottingham Road.
Celebrating 20 years of RED Contemporary Arts (formally RED Gallery), billboards across the city will be transformed into platforms for artistic excellence, as well as playing host to site-specific cultural events.
The project is part of Hull UK City of Culture 2017’s artistic programme and is being funded through the Hull 2017 Creative Communities Programme, which is being delivered in partnership with the Big Lottery Fund.
Yol’s piece, which will be on display outside Lidl on Cottingham Road from 2 January, is the first of a series of billboards, which will link to Hull 2017’s seasons and will be in sites from HU1-HU9, changing every four weeks.
Celebrating the Made in Hull season, the artists whose work will be on display between January to March are locally based Kerry Baldry, whose billboard will be on the corner of North Road and Boothferry Rd and Clare Holdstock and Josh Williams, whose collaborative piece will be on Hedon Road.
REDboard will offer a unique public insight into work from Hull artists with additional moving images, soundclips and performative elements, which will be accessible through a series of QR codes appearing throughout the city centre, alongside artist postcards which will be available from local venues.
Lou Hazelwood said: “While local talent is showcased throughout Made in Hull; Roots & Routes will welcome the work of international artists from Rotterdam, Reykjavík, Aarhus and Freetown; Freedom launches a rallying ‘open call’ for submissions; and works celebrating the importance of Hull bring the year to a close as part of Tell the World.”
Martin Green, CEO and Director of Hull 2017, added: “REDboard sees contemporary art break out of the confines of traditional gallery space to bring 13 billboards to life over the course of 2017. It is a fantastic way of showcasing local talent, as well as introducing international art to new audiences across the city.”
