Community art and conversations on Clean Air Day

On Clean Air Day (Thursday 18 June), residents joined our Air Quality team for a series of innovative Creative Cityscape workshops held at Orleans House Gallery and Patch Twickenham. 

Guided by local artist Paloma Durante, participants explored the areas of Richmond upon Thames that hold meaning for them and help define the borough’s identity. Their reflections and shared discussion then shaped the development of collective paintings featuring Richmond’s iconic features and places such as the River Thames and a variety of local buildings, infrastructure and green spaces.

Participants reflected that the workshops inspired them to look at everyday things and places from a different perspective, describing the experience as “eye-opening”. Many also took part in our playful lunchtime activity, Collecting Air, where they were invited to collect something impossible: the wind. Participants took the chance to relax, feel the space around them, and ‘capture’ the wind, recording their ideas and perceptions to help build a unique and poetic collection. 

Our Air Quality team also ran a pop-up event at George Street in Richmond, where residents and visitors stopped by to hear about the Council’s work to improve local air quality.

Find out more about our actions to tackle air pollution.