Green Art Exhibition for Eastgate Centre

A 'green art' exhibition is opening in Basildon to promote environmental awareness among local businesses. Dozens of companies from across the district are entering artwork into the show being held in the Eastgate shopping centre. The exhibition opens to residents on Friday 30 May and closes on Saturday 7 June.

More than 45 paintings, pictures, and sculptures will go on display for shoppers during a week long exhibition outside Debenhams. They include a dragonfly made out of recycled shopping trolleys and a five-foot tree constructed from recycled materials.

There will also be a garden waste wheelie bin sprouting a giant daffodiland a life-size bust made from recycled rubbish. The Basildon Art Challenge, expected to become an annual event, is being organised by the Green Business Forum. The forum, funded by Basildon Council, offers free advice to help businesses reduce their impact on the environment and make efficiency savings.

Colin Stroud of the Green Business Forum said:“We challenged local businesses to come up with artwork that reflects their view on how green Basildon is. We are delighted so many companies have shown a commitment to adopting greener ways of working by entering the competition. We hope the exhibition encourages both shoppers and businesses to become more environmentally aware.”

The artwork will be on display for a week before a panel of judges picks a winner from among three categories – best under 16, best over 16 and best professional artist. In the last year, businesses working with the forum have saved nearly a million pounds through environmental improvements.

Forum experts helped businesses save £735,000 on energy, £165,000 on cardboard waste and £17,000 on water. Among the businesses taking part in the competition are McDonalds, Waterstones, Anglian Water and Hobby Craft. The exhibition is being sponsored by English Partnerships, Basildon ArtsTrust, Eastgate and IFDS.