Creative Technology Students Add Flair to Hutt Arcade   28 Mar 2015

Creative Technology Students Add Artistic Flair to Hutt Arcade

Media are invited to view the creative art work being installed over the weekend.

Students in WelTec’s Bachelor of Creative Technologies are bringing colour to Queens Arcade in central Lower Hutt.

Part of a Hutt City Council project, the students are painting a mural along one side of the arcade towards the High Street end.

“It’s phase one of a Council project that involves a mural, signage and an artificial grass wall,” says WelTec student Cole Zeal who is leading the project.

“We’ve had a great reaction so far. Everyone who has walked past has been quite impressed,” says Cole

The final-year student in WelTec’s Bachelor of Creative Technologies produced the concept design and is project managing the painting, which has involved a number of students working day and night to get it done by April.

“This is the first major project I’ve done and everyone from Hutt City Council to WelTec have been really supportive,” says Cole.

Hutt City Council Cyndi Christensen CBD Development Manager says, “It’s great to have WelTec students involved in this project, which will add some vibrancy to the CBD. Queens Arcade is a hidden gem that needs a bit of a polish. With new businesses populating that end of the Arcade, it’s a timely opportunity to turn this into an attractive and interesting space.”

Paint and other materials for the project have also been generously supplied by local paint company Resene Paints.

Cole Zeal says the idea for the street art project came out of a class he did last year. His tutor at WelTec Grant Corbishley suggested there might be the opportunity to work with the Hutt City Council on improving spaces in the CBD. Since then, the Council has worked with property and store owners to give the project the green light.

“We’re looking to bring vibrancy to the Arcade and the store owners, in particular, have been really welcoming of the idea. Why not use our creative talent to transform this space,” says Cole

Cole who is originally from Auckland came to Wellington to work in the thriving Wellington film sector.

“I came here because I wanted to get into film and in the Bachelor of Creative Technologies you learn about digital technology,” says Cole. “However my background is also ideal for this project. I’ve really enjoyed doing the concept design and would like to do more of that.

“One of the main reasons we’ve done this is to enhance the environment for local Hutt businesses and visitors to the Arcade. If this project’s a success, maybe we could help enliven some other spaces too,” says Cole.

ENDS

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