Art trail launch as Wrexham aims for UK City of Culture 2029

The city has officially launched a new trail of striking art installations as part of Wrecsam2029, its UK City of Culture 2029 bid. The project, coordinated by local artist Liam Stokes-Massey, features 14 striking murals across the city centre that form a new ‘open air gallery’.

The aim of the trail is to showcase the work of local artists and celebrate Wrexham’s rich heritage, industries and creative identity ahead of the UK City of Culture 2029 bid process opening later this year. If successful, Wrexham will be the first Welsh destination to be named as a UK City of Culture.

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The project has been a culmination of months of work by the artists, including local talent and renowned mural creator collectives such as MurWalls and Blank Walls. Four pre-existing football murals have been used as a basis for the trail and are joined by a further seven new commissioned pieces of art themed around Wrexham’s history, industries and markets.

Wrexham Public Art Trail map.

The murals are placed in diverse sites across the city, from the side of local pubs to car parks and shopping centres. Many of the buildings chosen as locations are poignant community landmarks, such as Tŷ Pawb market, arts and culture centre and the charity shop of Nightingale House Hospice, which has been providing specialist palliative care to Wrexham residents for three decades.

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Expressing his enthusiasm for the project, Morgan Thomas, Culture Bid Coordinator for Wrecsam2029 said: “Thanks to all of the wonderful local artists, Wrexham’s city centre has been revitalised with artworks that authentically reflect the city’s distinct culture and heritage.”

He added: “It simply wouldn’t have been possible without the invaluable contributions of Liam Stokes-Massey, who coordinated the trail and the businesses that provided wall space for the artworks.”

Thomas also expressed anticipation for the addition of more artworks to the city centre in the future.

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In recent months Wrexham has been gaining national and international recognition for its unique community identity. Following Wrexham AFC’s global rise to fame on Welcome to Wrexham and Wrexham’s recently granted city status, this project further cements its growing reputation as a cultural destination. Crucially, the art trail allows Wrexham to showcase its rich cultural landscape beyond football.

Wrexham invites visitors to experience the trail for themselves, using the dedicated map to explore Wrexham’s new open air gallery that portrays the city’s past while also seeking to shape its cultural future.

• The project is strongly supported by Wrexham City of Culture and the WCBC City Centre and Arts teams.