Street art is returning to two main City of Hamilton thoroughfares, thanks to a newly-formed partnership between the Bank of Bermuda and local art societies.

The Bank announced yesterday that, by joining forces with the Bermuda Society of Arts, the Bermuda National Art Gallery and the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art, local artists will have an opportunity to paint and display their artwork along Front and Reid Streets, thanks to its new ‘Art in the Street’ competition.

Local artists who are members of the named societies are being invited to enter the ‘Art in the Street’ competition, with successful applicants being asked to paint their submissions on hoardings around the Bank’s Harbourview construction site running between Front and Reid Streets.

The ‘Art in the Street’ competition follows a similar initiative earlier this year when members of the Bermuda Society of Arts had photographs of their artwork displayed on fencing around the former Trimingham’s building site. Some 57 images were displayed by 35 artists over several months as the Bank of Bermuda progressed with its redevelopment plans.

Chief Executive Officer Philip Butterfield noted that since the development of the Harbourview site began, the Bank has used the empty site to display the artwork of local artists.

“As we were awaiting planning approval, we took the opportunity to promote the work of local artists and charities in the windows of 39 Front Street. As a result, over 50 pieces of local art were sold, and various community events were promoted,” he said. “Then, earlier this year we invited members of the Bermuda Society of Arts to submit photos of their art to be displayed on fencing erected around the construction site. Now with wooden hoarding surrounding the site, we are once again in a position to promote local art while at the same time making the worksite more aesthetically pleasing as construction plans progress.”

A panel from the Bank of Bermuda will select 26 successful applicants to paint their submission on four foot by four foot marked out areas on the wooden hoarding on Sunday, August 26 with a rain date of Sunday, September 9. A first, second and third place winner will be selected from the participants. The deadline for entries of July 20.

[bul] To sign up, please e-mail the Bermuda Society of Arts at bsoa[AT]ibl.bm, the Bermuda National Art Gallery at director@bng.bm, or the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art at mworks2@ibl.bm