Paintings in store as empty city shops give artists new lease of life

Alexandra Wood

THE recession has given artists a window of opportunity in Whitefriargate, Hull, where empty shops have been given over to black and white paintings, some depicting city scenes such as nearby Holy Trinity Church.

The initiative, paid for by Government funding, preceded new footfall figures, gathered from counters on six main shopping streets, which illustrate the massive swing of shoppers to the new St Stephen’s mall.

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The figures show that the centre on Ferensway sucked up 31 per cent of Hull’s footfall, with Whitefriargate, once the city’s premier shopping street, down to 16 per cent, from around 18 per cent the previous year.

King Edward Street grabbed over 20 per cent, and Jameson Street and Prospect Street around 10 per cent.

Despite the recession, footfall in the city overall was eight per cent up compared with 2008. Ken Baldwin, manager of the Hull BID, admitted that didn’t necessarily translate into profits, but said: “All I can do is try and make more people walk past their doors.

“If you look overall at the figures, Hull is doing well. There’s been a major move of footfall and that’s a concern.”

He said Whitefriargate was probably the hardest-hit area in the city centre, adding: “We need to make sure the area has the opportunities to do all right.”

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