[New Bond Street]
We’ve got a summer street fair to enjoy in the centre of Bath this weekend – and it’s all happening under some colourful street banners created by local school and college students, as part of a creative initiative led by Fashion Museum Bath and Bath & North East Somerset Council, in partnership with The Holburne Museum.
The banners and bunting feature original designs by students from St Mark’s School, Hayesfield School, LIFT Broadlands and Bath College. This vibrant installation shines a spotlight on the city’s next generation of creative talent, placing young artists and designers at the heart of Bath’s public spaces.
The designs were created through a series of hands-on workshops, made possible by initial funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and inspired by A Life in Print, The Holburne Museum’s exhibition celebrating the bold and influential work of British designer Zandra Rhodes.
Students explored Rhodes’ distinctive creative approach during a guided visit to the exhibition before taking part in artist-led printing and design workshops, where they experimented with colour, pattern and personal expression to develop their own original designs.
A curated selection of this student work, chosen by Fashion Museum Bath, has now been scaled up and installed across Bath’s streets, transforming the city with fresh and dynamic interpretations of fashion and textile design.
Bath & North East Somerset Council leader, Councillor Kevin Guy, said:
“It’s fantastic to see the creativity of our young people brought to life across Bath’s streets. These installations add colour to the city and show how fashion can inspire our future generations’ creativity. This Fashion Museum Bath collaboration showcases how our cultural organisations and schools can work together to improve Bath for residents and visitors alike.”
This initiative reflects Fashion Museum Bath’s commitment to championing creativity, learning and access, providing students with a rare opportunity to engage directly with professional design processes and inspiring those interested in pursuing further study or careers in the creative industries.
It forms part of the Fashion Museum Bath’s pre-opening learning programme, building meaningful connections with young people across the region. It also lays the foundation for the museum’s upcoming pilot initiative, ‘Fashion Is… Sketch. Print. Wear.’ a bi-annual design challenge for Key Stage 3–5 students, designed to create accessible and inspiring routes into fashion and design.
The banner installation forms part of a wider programme of regeneration activity in Bath’s Milsom Quarter and has been supported through the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority’s Bath High Street Renewal Programme.
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:
“I’m delighted that our funding is helping to give more young people the chance to develop their creative talents, build new skills, and explore exciting careers in fashion and design.
“Zandra Rhodes is a true icon, lauded for her bold and vibrant concepts. This celebration of art, fashion, and imagination by Fashion Museum Bath will add even more colour to the city throughout the summer.”
