We all know Stokes Croft; millions of people travel along its historic streets every year as it provides the main route from the city centre to North Bristol, but why is the area so run down? 22% of the ground floor properties are derelict for god’s sake! It seems Bristol has forgotten about Stokes Croft.

Well, not all of Bristol. Far from forgetting/ignoring the area, local artist Chris Chalkley has made it his mission to turn Stokes Croft into the world’s largest outdoor art gallery. Fed up with waiting the local council to improve the area, Chris rallied fellow artists and lots of locals to help transform the streets under the guise of the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft, armed with only paintbrushes and wide smiles.

The Republic has two main missions:
1 – The decorate the streets and turn Stokes Croft into a creative wonderland which people will want to visit and look forward to travelling through and most importantly be proud of. This objective is well on its way – turn over for a smattering of some of the stunningly original and creative works already created in Stokes Croft.

2 – A change of attitude and make people recognise Stokes Croft as an area of cultural significance and artistic merit. Stokes Croft is a vibrant, fascinating area with a high concentration of independent, creative organisations and businesses, a culturally diverse range of residents and an interesting and eclectic range of historic buildings. This all needs to be recognised and protected in time for the inevitable development which will creep into the area with the shiny, new Broadmead development nearing completion.

Go visit Stokes Croft yourself and see with own eyes the transformation that is taking place; an area regenerating itself through the power of the people.

www.prsc.org.uk