STIRLING’S STREET STORIES PROJECT RECEIVES A FACELIFT

Michael Corr’s colourful mural of national poet Robert Burns is now located on Murray Place.

Stirling’s ambitious Street Stories project - which transforms empty shop windows into vibrant works of art - has been given a revival.

The ground-breaking scheme was launched by Go Forth Stirling BID last April and featured a range of animated artworks on eight shop windows in a move aimed at revitalising the city centre.

Since then, a number of the vacant shops have been occupied and the artworks have moved to other locations to continue to brighten up the high street.

The project showcases work by a range of local artists whose art is brought to life via interactive Augmented Reality (AR) and forms part of a Trail telling the stories of Stirling’s people, heritage and history via mediums such as mosaic, dance, mural, digital and fluid art.

One is leading Scottish figurative artist Jacqueline Marr whose impressive `Wings’ painting originally featured on the windows of Designer Distinction in Murray Place, but now adorns the gates at Friars Street.

Jacqueline Marr’s stunning Wings painting can now be found in Friars Street.

Another is Alloa-based painter Michael Corr whose colourful mural of national poet Robert Burns had pride of place at The Works on Port Street and now improves the look of the former TUI holiday store in Murray Place.

Go Forth Stirling Project Director Danielle McRorie-Smith said: “Street Stories achieved its aim of bringing the streets of Stirling to life as our shops and hospitality premises welcomed customers back last year following the Covid restrictions.

“We’re especially proud of this project which makes the city centre more visually appealing by featuring bright and vibrant windows rather than empty and uninspiring shopfronts. It also gives points of interest through the hidden stories behind each artwork.

“Some of the previously empty shops which featured Street Stories have now been taken over by new businesses which meant we could move the artworks around the city to new locations after resizing and reformatting them to fit.

“They continue to give visitors and shoppers something interesting to look at as they move around the city and we hope people are still enjoying the artworks.”

Eight artists were selected for Street Stories including art student Lou Carberry who used her personal experiences to create striking works of art in a range of mediums.

Lou Carberry’s artwork Reaching Out has moved to Maxwell Place.

Her ‘Reaching Out’ series of drawings, which feature a hand reaching out for help, were initially displayed in the windows of the Trophy Centre in Upper Craigs and now feature at the former Alex Brewster Electrical showroom in Maxwell Place.

Meanwhile, mosaic artist Rachel Davies’ work, exploring Scottish slate and stone, can still be viewed in Stirling Arcade and fluid artist Roisin Mackenzie’s paintings of the River Forth remain animated on the windows of the old BHS building in Murray Place.

The other Street Stories artists are Stirling illustrator David Galletly; professional dance choreographer Malcolm Sutherland and contemporary artist Jacqueline Scorgie who practises under the name Jacque.

Their artworks have been moved from their original locations, which are now all occupied, and will be relocated to new premises - including one in the Thistles - during the coming months.

More details about Street Stories can be found here