Public art

An exploration of public art

The borough of Basingstoke and Deane is home to a vast collection of public art. Since 1989 the council has followed a Percent for Art policy, encouraging developers to include art and craft in new developments and improvement schemes.

From sculptures to seating, and gates to glasswork, this has resulted in a vibrant range of public art which can be found across the borough. The brochure below provides an introduction to much of the work which is on public display.

Public Art brochure(PDF) [2 Mb]

We are currently updating the brochure to include the work created as part of our Streets Alive project. We aim to have a revised brochure in place by spring 2024.

Streets Alive and TrailTale

Come and discover art work, on the streets of Basingstoke!

Streets Alive is a creative project in Basingstoke, bringing colour to the street furniture in the town centre. Beginning in March 2022, our benches, planters and telecoms boxes were brought to life by some of Basingstoke’s most talented artists and storytellers.

Since the project began last year, we have continued to add to the works on display. You can find work by artists Rachel Davis, Louise Hight, Neil Jepson, Liam Kelleher, Corinne Marsh, Laura Messin, Joanne Morse, Kev Munday, Rachel O’Connell, Jacky Purtill, Jill Smith, Sian Storey Art, Willow the Wispa and artWell.

Short commissioned poems and quotes from Jane Austen can be spotted on benches, illustrated by Fátima Pantoja and Laura Fisher and written by Lydia Thomson, Rebecca Lyon and Josh Dixon. We’ve partnered with TrailTale and created a guided walk featuring the Streets Alive artworks.

To enjoy the walk, download the free TrailTale app to your smartphone and discover the art on the streets of Basingstoke.

Basingstoke Heritage Trail

The Basingstoke Heritage Trail is a self-guided walk of the town centre starting in Basingstoke’s 800-year-old Market Place.

Enjoy your walk around our town and discover all the hidden gems. You can download a digital copy of the Heritage Trail or pick up a printed version in many businesses at the top of the town.