Art / News
Community paint jam raises over £500 for children hospital
A community-led paint jam in Bristol has managed to raise hundreds for the Grand Appeal, and usher in a wave of colour to the neighbourhood.
The funds were raised as part of The Paint Jam on Novers Hill in Bedminster, spearheaded by local resident Ashely Pocinuncula. She did not want the blank walls surrounding her house “going to waste” and was inspired to support artists who were struggling to find space and resources for their work.
Her post in a local Facebook group offering these walls as a canvas received an “amazing” response, including a message from local artist Mind49.
is needed now More than ever
Mind49 offered to organise a paint jam, where artists could come together to paint with full creative freedom. Together, they realised this was an opportunity to team up and create a really special day for the community.
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Apart from a paint jam and fundraiser for the Bristol Children’s Hospital charity, there were a series of activities for children through the day.
Porciuncula had long dreamt of setting up a neighbourhood lending library, but struggled to do so due to health reasons. Alongside the paint jam, neighbours and friends came together to make this dream a reality.
The lending library, named Page Against the Machine, will be a place for the community to swap books and games. The name was chosen at The Paint Jam by the attendees using an unusual voting system.
Attendees placed donations in labelled jars in order to cast their votes and over £500 were raised for the Grand Appeal as a result.
The Novers Hill lending library ‘Page Against the Machine’ will allow community members to swap books games
Eleven artists – including Jody who painted the Greta Thunberg mural during UpFest in 2019 – used spray paint and creativity to transform the walls.
Other artists included DazCat, Pekoe and Joe Greenway who travelled from St Ives solely for the event. Greenway painted a portrait of his grandmother, who gave birth to his mother in Bristol in 1948.
He added: “To paint in a city like Bristol is inspiring and humbling. It has a special place in my heart.”
Joe Greenway’s grandmother gave birth to his mother in Bristol
This opportunity, born out of Porciuncula’s empathy for artists struggling for resources, meant a great deal to those involved.
“There’s a sort of contradiction, where graffiti/street art murals are an undeniable contribution to the community and are widely appreciated yet are painfully underfunded”, said DazCat.
They continued: “This opportunity gave me the time and space to experiment a little, to push myself and include a portrait along with the animal characters I’m known for painting. And I’m grateful for the support.”
Organiser Porciuncula described the day as a “celebration not only of creativity, but of shared space, mutual aid and public expression.”
All photos: Ashley Porciuncula
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