Month: December 2020

Vauxhall Station Bridge Transformed with Art Installation

Posted on by Daniel Adusei

Vauxhall One has transformed a major railway bridge at Vauxhall station with an eye-catching installation. The message ‘Vauxhall. You are One of a Kind’ will greet commuters as they arrive into the area, further brightening the public realm.

Watch the project come to life in our time lapse video on Youtube, with French street artist Nerone (@nerone_lecoktail). His work can be seen across the world in New York, Bangkok and Marrakech, as well as at the mural on New Spring Gardens Walk in Vauxhall.

The new piece of street art, delivered in partnership with Network Rail and Anatomy, delves into the illustrious history of the area, featuring two vibrant characters linked to Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens.

On the left, the famed Master of Ceremonies C.H. Simpson  is featured. For 34 years he worked at the Gardens, welcoming newcomers at the gates, tipping his hat to lords and ladies. This tradition is now continued with the installation, as he welcomes commuters as they arrive into Vauxhall.

On the right, the legendary tightrope walker Madame Saqui is depicted. She was most often seen balancing precariously far above the heads of admiring crowds in Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, demonstrating her mastery of the tightrope. In the artwork, she has returned to perform high above the heads of the crowds who pass through Vauxhall station every day.

If you’d like to learn more about the history of Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, and the characters that brought it to life, you can learn more in the Vauxhall One online history book.

Further images of the bridge can be viewed below.

Google Advice & Tools for Small Businesses

Posted on by Daniel Adusei

Google have reported surges in the words “local” and “near me” reaching an all-time high in the UK last month. Their data trends also show that searches for specific phrases like ‘local guide programme’, ‘local bike shop’ and ‘local farm shops’ have grown by over 1,000%.

Google have spoken with small businesses to identify helpful guidance on building a digital ‘shop window’, complementing physical presence. A recent IPSOS study showed 90% of customers are more likely to interact with a business if they have a phone number listed online, or if the business has shared images. As such Google has created the following resources:

  • Open for Business – collection of step-by-step guides on updating customers (e.g. revised opening times, info about any new services offered like take-aways and deliveries) and on adapting businesses to thrive on the web (e.g. how to sell online)

 

  • free 1:1 mentoring service in partnership with the charity Digital Boost, which gives access to a range of cross-sector expertise to help bring organisations online and help them grow. This is targeted at both small businesses and charities, recognising the third sector has a vital role in the inclusive economy

 

  • #dearlocal campaign to encouraging people to spread the word about great local businesses by sharing positive reviews and feedback where possible.

 

Recognising that a challenge for businesses is to support their staff adapt and thrive in an increasingly digital environment, the Google Digital Garage platform offers free webinars and self-taught sessions for career development as well as business-specific skills training like helping customers find businesses online, protecting businesses from online harm, and selling abroad.

Classical Vauxhall Wins Arts Council Funding

Posted on by Daniel Adusei

Classical Vauxhall has been granted public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

The event, which started with its inaugural classical concert series in February 2020, aims to remove the ceremony and prestige traditionally linked to classical music. Classical Vauxhall creates a welcoming environment to enjoy classical music, making it more personal, available and accessible.

The event will be free to watch online in March 2021, and will incorporate an educational programme for Vauxhall primary schools with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Classical Vauxhall’s artistic director Fiachra Garvey said: “Classical Vauxhall is honoured to receive funding towards our 2021 project from The Arts Council’s National Lottery Awards. Our event’s philosophy is a perfect match with the Arts Council’s principles of ensuring a positive and inclusive experience for all, and we look forward to making our event freely accessible online to make Classical Music available for everyone to enjoy.”

Classical Vauxhall is delivered in partnership by Vauxhall One and Lambeth Council. More details will be released soon on the Vauxhall, London website.

Vauxhall Highly Commended at City Nation Place Awards

Posted on by admin2020

The Vauxhall, London brand, created by Vauxhall One and Anatomy Brands, has been recognised in 2 categories at this year’s City Nation Place Awards, winning the Highly Commended prize for Best Use of Design.

Award judges celebrated the commendation, stating that the win was given “for a creative design system which captures the destination’s spirit and beautifully encapsulates the notion that the past inspires the present.”

The City Nation Place Awards recognise outstanding examples of place branding around the world, to promote the reputation of cities, regions, and nations, to promote tourism, attract talent or investment, or increase economic competitiveness.

As well as winning the Highly Commended prize for Best Use of Design, the Vauxhall, London brand was also a finalist in the Place Brand of the Year category, recognising the achievement of place branding teams who bring together a long term strategic approach to managing and promoting the place brand and have demonstrated how a strong place brand can provide resilience in a crisis.

Explore Vauxhall, London at beinvauxhall.com.