News: Meanwhile, in Rotherham town centre

In the lead-up to Christmas, Rotherham Borough Council has teamed up with graphic design companies, local artists, Rotherham College of Arts and Technology and local retailers to improve the look of open and closed shops in Rotherham town centre.

This forms part of Town Centre Management's "Meanwhile Project" which aims to bring life and footfall back to the town centre by improving the look of vacant units throughout the town centre.

The first phase of this project aims to boost the main shopping area for Christmas with attractive exhibitions and displays to inspire shoppers.

Artwork was installed last week on the former Marks & Spencer unit on College Street, featuring photographs of independent stores – Image, Posy Bowl and Eton – prompting people to visit the niche shops on Wellgate.

The council's town centre manager, Julie Roberts, said: "We wanted to step up the positive work we're delivering for the town centre to improve its visual appeal during the festive busy shopping period, while also bringing art to a wider audience."

The project will now continue with installing similar artistic wraps, being prepared at the moment, for the former Music Zone unit, also on College Street, and the former Bay Trading unit, on Effingham Street.

Art & Fashion students from Rotherham College of Arts and Technology are creating an attractive display in other vacant units in the town centre.

A festive window dressing competition is being run for existing businesses which will include free visual merchandising workshops being held by South Yorkshire's Retail Skills Academy, The Source.

Rotherham Town Centre website
The Source website
Rotherham

Images: RiDO