Over the next few months large-scale art installations on the theme of Essex Nature and Wildlife will be popping up throughout Chelmsford City Centre.

The project, ‘eXplore’ which is funded through Essex County Council Small Cultural Grants Scheme, has involved Key Stage 3 (KS3) students from Chelmer Valley High School (CVHS) who have worked with artists Victoria Button, Electronic Engineer Ed Bye, Software developer David Bower and Sue Bedford art teacher to produce some wonderful ideas to get the community thinking about recycling, the environment and to make the City Centre more attractive.

So far three large installations have been confirmed: two within the High Chelmer Shopping centre and one in Moulsham Street.

Throughout the project the young people have had the chance to visit ancient woodlands, to take direct inspiration from nature as well as pitching their designs to business people from the City; they also won the Anglian Ruskin University Award at the annual Chelmsford Science and Engineering Competition (CSES) for the projects innovative use of technology.

One of the installations uses 12 computer controlled theatrical lights to display pollution levels in the City.

Victoria Button the creative mind behind the project said: "This type of “Art”is about social change and promoting ideas and concepts, I want to give young people the chance to practice all the elements a good artist needs: resilience, communication skills and collaboration."

"The eXplore project has proven a true collaboration.

"The project has had input from experts across the County: Web developers, Computer coders, Engineers and other Artists are all helping the project take shape."

Sue Bedford, an art teacher, said: "Our students have been able to work on a live brief for Chelmsford City centre - something normally only professionals would be able to boast about, this has given them the ability to belive they can accomplish anything in life… Which is simply priceless.

"They have done the school proud with their dedication to the project."

The project is in the creation stages with artworks being produced at drop in workshops at the Ideas Hub, 1 Market Square, every Friday evening 6pm – 8pm and every Saturday from 10am – 4pm the workshops are free and open to any young person.

They involve: Coding, Graphic Design, Web development, engineering and of course art and design.

Chelmsford Recycling Centre have helped enormously collecting and sorting through the City's waste for materials to be used in the project, but the project still needs: colourful carrier bags and clean empty plastic milk bottles to complete the installations. 

Drop them off to the Ideas Hub.

Visit: www.exploreproject.co.uk for more details of how to get involved.