Crowdfunding appeal launched for Axminster banners project

Axminster Chamber of Commerce has launched a £1,500 crowdfunding appeal to extend the popular street banners initiative that brightened the town last summer.

The aim is to add ten more banners in each of 2023 and 2024 and to take them to more streets, so creating a complete trail that tells the past and present Axminster story for locals and visitors alike.

The colourful handmade banners were used to decorate shop and building fronts in the town centre last year, depicting key features and historic moments from Axminster.

Whilst the project has received valuable new support from Axminster Town Council with a free workshop for its painters, public funds are harder to get this year, necessitating the crowdfunder to fill the gap.

"Given the increasing contribution of the banners to the atmosphere of the town, we are very much hoping the community will pile in to help us," said chamber secretary Barrie Hedges.

"There has been huge enthusiasm for what we achieved in 2022, but our ability to build on that with more banners brightening more streets is limited by funds."

The crowdfunder has a £1,500 initial target. Funds are needed for:

• The fabric from which the banners are cut and stitched
• The printing of the base designs that are then transferred onto the fabric
• The specialist scenery paint used to bring them to life
• The metal work needed to make poles and brackets for display
• Printing of shop window display panels that profile each banner

If the fund exceeds its base target, the team also wants to build a dedicated Axminster Banners Trail website that tells the more detailed story behind each banner and links the historic ones to Axminster Heritage Centre displays.

A colouring book is also planned so that children can paint the basic banner designs whatever colour they fancy. 

Another key feature of this year's still-evolving plans is the involvement of local schools in planning and helping to produce their own banners.

With some 11 coats of undercoat, topcoat and glaze, it is estimated that each banner consumes 60 hours of effort in creating what many have referred to as unique works of art.

The project has been made possible through the sheer dedication of a team of enthusiastic volunteers - from the needleworkers who cut and stitch the fabric, to designers, painters and a 'ladder group' who put them into place.

The organisers are keen to hear from anyone who would like to join the team, especially painters – they should email [email protected]

Designs introduced in the summer of 2022 included celebrations of Axminster's rivers, wildlife, farming industry, railway and its easy access to three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

There are others that salute its community spirit, feather factory and Cherry Fayre.

On the heritage front, there is a banner that tells the story of the Newenham Abbey and another recording its days as a centre of the British brush industry. 

"We have a whole string of exciting designs on the stocks for 2023, including one for the coronation on May 6," said Mr Hedges.

"But to do that we have to pay the bills and we really need support from anyone who cares about a great town." 

Donations can be made online at https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/axminster-banners-trail  or via the Axminster Chamber of Commerce website www.axminster.biz.

Cheques or cash donations can also be given to chamber chair Jane Rockett at Axminster Printing.