Funded through the Mayor of London’s Air Quality Fund, Tom Pearman was commissioned to develop a series of public artworks promoting cleaner air across Brockley, South London.

The permanent works were installed at a range of community locations, including three local schools, a public library, a public house and a station café. Each artwork presents a different positive message through the recurring graphic device of an opening box containing the words CLEANER AIR.

Community engagement formed an integral part of the development of the artworks, combining creative workshops, public consultation and collaboration with local organisations and businesses.

School workshops

Tom devised and delivered a series of educational workshops exploring air quality, pollution and positive environmental messages with pupils at local schools.

Participants discussed the causes and effects of air pollution before developing their own drawings, slogans and graphic responses. A box template derived from the developing artwork concept provided a framework through which pupils could experiment with their own cleaner-air messages.

Ideas generated during the workshops helped inform the imagery and language used within the permanent enamel artworks.

The engagement programme also included the production of promotional T-shirts and badges, using the project’s cleaner-air graphics and messages to extend the campaign beyond the permanent artworks and increase its visibility within the community.

“We chose a box template and then drew a clean air poster. Tom printed our design onto the boxes. This was a really creative session and I liked being taught more about pollution.”
— Jack, pupil

Community consultation

Alongside the school programme, Tom attended community meetings and public assemblies to introduce the project, gather responses and discuss the aims of the cleaner-air initiative.

The engagement process brought together residents, schools, businesses, community organisations and the local authority, allowing the artworks to develop in response to the different locations in which they would eventually be installed.

By placing individual works within familiar neighbourhood settings, the project used public art as a way of making the issue of air quality visible within everyday community life.

Project delivery

Tom managed the project from development through to installation.

His role included establishing relationships with Lewisham Council, schools, community organisations and local businesses, developing and delivering the educational programme, coordinating consultation, designing the artworks and managing installation across the different sites.

The commission extended over a two-year period, allowing the engagement process and permanent artworks to develop as part of a wider approach to promoting cleaner air within the area.

Project feedback

“Tom was commissioned over a two year period and his remit was extended due to the quality of his work. He worked independently and thoroughly, over-achieving in the positive outcomes to the project. He has fantastic creative and strategic abilities and a project would be safe in his hands.”
— Nancy Stridgen, Project Manager, Cultural and Community Development, Lewisham Council

“The children thoroughly enjoyed working alongside him and exploring creative ideas. We appreciate the talent and time taken by Tom and we are thrilled to have worked alongside him for the day.”
— Colleen Scotland, Year 4 Leader, Stillness Junior School

From engagement to artwork

The consultation and workshop programme informed a series of permanent vitreous enamel artworks installed across Brockley.

Each work combines a site-specific message with the recurring CLEANER AIR motif, creating a family of artworks distributed through the neighbourhood.

VIEW MAIN PROJECT →

Project archive

A dedicated project website documents the development of the commission, community engagement and completed artworks in greater detail:

www.tompearman.co.uk/brockley-corridor-arts