Bangor: Art-led Regeneration

In March 2024, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announced significant funding for three iconic art installations in Bangor.  They are being designed by renowned artist and Bangor resident Colin Davidson to showcase the 'new' city centre in the context of the substantial investment being delivered through the complimentary developments of Queen's Parade (by Bangor Marine Ltd) and the Council's Bangor Waterfront City Deal project.

Quality public art acts as a focal point for residents and an attraction for visitors and has made an extremely valuable contribution to regeneration in towns and cities across the world.

Following confirmation of funding from the Department for Communities, and in line with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, Colin Davidson has now been formally commissioned. 

Production and casting of the pieces will take just over a year.  It is anticipated that the three artworks will be assembled and installed by Summer 2025.   Work is being undertaken to confirm the final locations and work up the drawings/details required for planning - these will then be submitted to planning. 

This is an extremely exciting project for Bangor.  We look forward over the coming months to sharing updates from the artist on the progress of his work. 

For more information on the project please see the FAQs below or read the Ministerial press release announcing the funding Minister supports iconic art installations in Bangor.    

Bangor Art Piece FAQ's 

What is the project?

Hand Shadows is a proposal for a major art installation in Bangor that will support the city's short and long-term regeneration plans. The most significant of the proposed sculptures will be situated in Marine Gardens, with two smaller, complimentary sculptures located near Pickie Fun Park and the Long Hole - along the 2-mile stretch of Bangor Waterfront that is being redeveloped by the Council as part of the Belfast Region City Deal. 

What is art-led regeneration? 

According to The Place Economy, public art is a key driver for economic development, liveability, and creative industry competitiveness. 

Examples: 

Who is the artist?

Colin Davidson, a globally renowned, contemporary visual artist living and working in the Bangor area, is the artist who has designed Hand Shadows. His work, which includes grand-scale portraits (German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, President Bill Clinton, and HM Queen Elizabeth II) and 3D installations (a large bronze bust of Senator George Mitchell at Queen's University) has won widespread recognition and many international awards, as well as being exhibited worldwide.   

Alongside his outstanding talent and experience in delivering large-scale portraits, 3D art and bronze pieces, Colin has a personal connection to Bangor having lived and worked here for many years. He has a passion for regeneration across the city and wider Borough and was a supporter of Bangor's bid for city status in 2021. Find out more here Portrait Paintings - Colin Davidson

How was the artist selected/ procured? 

• Council identified an opportunity to secure the services of blue-chip artist Colin Davidson, who has a personal connection to the city and Borough as he both lives and works in Bangor. 
• As an internationally renowned artist, Colin Davidson's stature will ensure an iconic piece of art that can support regeneration and placemaking. 
• Public Contract Regulations (Regulation 32 (2) (b) (i)) allow the direct procurement of a unique piece of art.  In discussion with the principal funder, the Department for Communities, it was agreed to commission Colin Davidson in this way.  
• A VEAT notice (Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency Notice) was published on the e-tenders national portal to alert any alternative suppliers that the Council intended to award the proposed contract and allowed 30 days for anyone wishing to challenge, to do so.  Again this process is in line with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. 

What will it deliver?

The ultimate vision of Hand Shadows is to create a "trail" of art pieces that work both on an individual level, as well as collectively, attracting locals and visitors to explore the city's coastline and engage with Bangor, its people, and its stories.

Cast in bronze, and patented in a dark grey/green to fit into their coastal environment, each art piece will include a QR code linking the audience to local information and stories, enabling them to interact with the Borough's unique history and heritage. Each piece will be lit, inviting people of all ages to interact with the art and cast their own shadows - creating their own stories.  

The main piece will be an impressive 6m tall set of hands. The two hands will cast the shadow of a dove, linking to the unique history of St Columbanus, who left Bangor in c590 and took his message of hope across Europe. The piece will also represent the excitement in the city, providing a central focal area for the major regeneration schemes planned over the next five to ten years.  

To support the "trail" concept, two smaller pieces will also be progressed. They are also to be made from bronze and will stand 2.4m tall. One will be located close to Pickie Fun Park and depict hands reflecting the image of a Swan, and the other, representing a Crab, will be placed around the Long Hole (Seacliff Road).

What is the timeline? 

Following confirmation of funding from the Department for Communities, the Council formally commissioned the artist in March 2024.  It is expected the production and casting of the pieces will take just over a year, with assembly and installation completed by Summer 2025. 

What is the value of the project and how is it being funded?

Production, assembly and installation of the three sculptures is £1.2M.   

• The core funding is from the Department for Communities - a grant of £1,050,000.  
• The Council is allocating £221k from it's capital reserves fund (underspends from various service budgets in previous years). 

The Council will own the art pieces and be responsible for any ongoing maintenance. 

What impact will this have on the rates?

Council is contributing £221k to the art project.  This money is coming from the Council's capital reserves fund (underspends from various service budgets in previous years).  As such there is no additional cost to the ratepayers from this project.  

What are the expected benefits?

This art-led regeneration project offers the potential to:

• improve the image of the city and assist in enhancing its reputation as a visitor destination, putting Bangor on the map.
• increase footfall in the city centre/ waterfront area.
• promote the wellbeing of both residents and visitors by encouraging people to learn more about Bangor's unique heritage and stories. Research shows that people who engage with arts and culture have higher levels of life satisfaction and general health than those who do not engage.
• encourage further investment in our Arts infrastructure.  Ards and North Down has a high proportion of jobs within the creative industries, which this project will help to highlight.  
• support private sector investments in Bangor, including the £50M+ Queen's Parade scheme by Bangor Marine Ltd.
• support the vision outlined within the BRCD Bangor Waterfront Redevelopment to provide a unique range of opportunities for residents and visitors to have their lives enriched by a mix of public spaces, creative events,  attractions and experiences that tell our local story.  

What redevelopment will have been completed at Bangor Waterfront by the time the artworks are installed?

The main sculpture will be situated in the Marine Gardens area, which is due to be redeveloped as part of the Queen's Parade project.   Bangor Marine, the Queen's Parade developer, has given a start date of Summer 2024 for work at the Marine Garden's site, which will include significant landscaping, the creation of new walkways, events space and a play park.  It will also contain a number of units that can be used for commercial activity.  It is estimated that this work will take 12 months to complete, which will dovetail with the installation of the art piece in late Summer 2025.   

The Swan art piece will be located close to Pickie Fun Park and the Crab will be placed around the Long Hole or on the Eisenhower Pier.  The location, as yet, is to be finalised.  These locations are part of the Council's Bangor Waterfront Redevelopment.  This is a 10-year project and work 'on the ground' will not have started by the time these smaller art pieces are installed, however the project plan takes cognisance of them and any nearby public realm works will be sympathetic.   

What is the Queen's Parade Development? 

The Queen's Parade area of Bangor waterfront will be developed by Bangor Marine Ltd. The current £50M, private investment proposal will deliver:

• A 67-bed hotel with spa/ swimming pool
• 138 new homes (37 x 1 beds/ 98 x 2 beds/ 3 x 3 beds)
• Over 6000m2 of office space
• 1,858m2 of food and beverage/ retail opportunities
• A destination/ cinema building
• 1,208m2 indoor activity space
• 255-space car park
• Marine Gardens public realm and open space

Full details on the redevelopment can be found at www.queensparadebangor.com

What is the Bangor Waterfront Redevelopment?

Council-led, the Bangor Waterfront Redevelopment programme is one of several exciting tourism-led regeneration schemes that were eligible to receive funding from the Belfast Region City Deal.   Ards and North Down Borough Council was awarded £40M for the 10-year Redevelopment via a bespoke package of funding from the Department of Communities, with £20M secured from Council and an additional investment of £12.8M being sought from private investment. 

The vision is to seamlessly connect the waterfront to the rest of the city and, in so doing, provide a unique range of opportunities for residents and visitors to have their lives and businesses enriched by a mix of public spaces, creative events, activities, attractions and experiences that speak of local stories to a global audience.   

The Redevelopment will regenerate a 2-mile stretch of the waterfront from Skippingstone in the west to Bank's Lane in the east, comprising 5 key projects:

Pickie Family Fun Park
Bangor Marina
Court House Phase II
Ballyholme Yacht Club Water Sports Centre
Public Realm/Urban Waterfront Development

More information can be found here Bangor Waterfront Redevelopment