RESIDENTS have teamed up with a local artist to spruce up a city community centre.
Volunteers armed with paintbrushes and rollers joined Oxford artist Merlin Porter at the weekend to give the Barton Community Centre a very colourful makeover.
The swish new mural, which now covers the outside wall of the sports hall on Underhill Circus, was designed by Mr Porter using drawings and ideas from Barton residents.
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He worked with members of Barton Art Club to pencil the designs onto the wall.
The team then invited locals to come down to the site on Saturday afternoon to paint the bold mural, which will be finished off in a second session.
Angelina Abateye came along with her children Celestine, who is four, and Kwame, nine, to paint the brick walls.
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Other youngsters Hollie- Jude Lockyer, who is nine, and her brother Jaiden joined them.
The first 30 volunteers even bagged themselves a lunch at Eatwell’s Cafe also on Underhill Circus for £1, and two of the ‘most dedicated’ artists – picked by the pro Mr Porter – were given vouchers for the cafe or the Barton Chippy.
The second session is yet to be confirmed, but both councillor Marie Tidball – the board member for supporting local communities – and Mr Porter said they were excited to see the end result.
Ms Tidball said: “I am really pleased to invite people who live and work in Barton to come and help paint the new community mural.
“I’d like to thank everyone who has contributed their time, efforts ideas.”
Mr Porter said: “I am really impressed by the Barton community’s friendly and enthusiastic spirit.
“I can’t wait to help them turn their ideas into a reality and celebrate Barton with this big mural.”
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