York BID’s New City Centre Artwork Celebrates the River Foss

York BID has installed a new artwork celebrating the history of the River Foss, transforming an unloved stretch of Piccadilly into a vibrant work of art.

Commissioned by York BID, the 50-metre-wide installation has been designed by local artist Rob Stothert in partnership with York Civic Trust. The digital mural now wraps the long-empty Castle Mills hoarding, turning a former graffiti hotspot into a vibrant work of art.

The digital mural is the largest public art commission in York and celebrates York’s status as a UNESCO City of Media Arts. It’s part of the York Art Trail, launched by York BID to enrich the city with public art that celebrates York’s culture, history, and people.

The River Foss digital mural is part of York BID’s ongoing work to create a safer, cleaner, and more vibrant city centre.

Carl Alsop, Operations Manager at York BID, said: ‘‘This has been an exciting project to see come to life. Our Cleaning Team works hard every day to maintain the city, but this goes a step further – using art to prevent persistent graffiti and transform a neglected space into something people can really enjoy.’

The River Foss mural is a continuation of York BID’s Outside the Box project, the mini murals that can be found on the electrical boxes across Piccadilly, Coppergate, and Fishergate.

Rob Stothert, Artist, said: ‘This artwork celebrates the flora and fauna of the River Foss, alongside the rich stories that have shaped York. It’s been wonderful to explore and bring those elements together in such a visible way.’

York’s history is deeply connected to the River Foss, including the defensive lake created by William the Conqueror that eventually became the marshland that gave Foss Islands Road its name.

Andrew Morrison, Chief Executive Officer at York Civic Trust, said: ‘It’s great to see York’s heritage brought to life in such a contemporary way. We hope both residents and visitors will discover something new about our city through this piece.’

For more information about Outside the Box, visit: https://www.theyorkbid.com/outside-the-box-project/