Boxmakers Yard | Public Art
Poetry in Place: Discovering Meaning Through Everyday Moments
Working closely with the stakeholders, we shaped a public art programme for Box Makers Yard that brings poetic nuance and emotional resonance to a landmark Bristol development.
At its heart is a co-created community poem—a lyrical composition born from shared voices, daily rituals, and local history—woven seamlessly into the fabric of this new urban space
we invited residents, workers and visitors to contribute stories and reflections about the area—memories, sensations, aspirations. Through gentle dialogue led by a commissioned poet, the community explored their deep-rooted connection to place, charting emotional maps through language. These collected insights became the foundation for a poem that feels lived-in—rich, inclusive, and profoundly representative.
Rather than occupying a single location, the final artwork is embedded into multiple moments of discovery. Each stanza is thoughtfully placed—some visible only at certain times, others through interaction with shadow or light—creating a slow, deliberate reveal designed to foster curiosity and continuous engagement. Whether glimpsed while walking home, during daylight, or at nightfall, the poem unfolds gradually, much like the relationships it celebrates.
“Residents and visitors to see themselves reflected in the development’s cultural identity—not merely as occupants, but as co-authors of place.”
Audiences are invited to discover the collaborative poems over a period of time, finding out about them through chance observations, or via word of mouth.