Suffolk-based artist Louise Gridley, an art teacher at Abbeygate Sixth, speaks of support for Bury St Edmunds street art banners removed by arc shopping centre

The removal of students’ artwork from a shopping centre location has sparked debate, with many people critical of the decision taken.

There has been fierce discussion on social media after the street art banners by Abbeygate Sixth Form College students at the arc shopping centre, in Bury St Edmunds, were taken down due to complaints from ‘upset’ visitors and residents.

Artist and Abbeygate Sixth teacher Louise Gridley said she and her students had been ‘amazed at the strength of public support’ for the artwork after people reacted to it being removed.

The mural banners on the theme of crime and punishment, which were unveiled to the public at Hanchet Square on July 12, didn’t even make a week before arc management took the decision to taken them down.

Ms Gridley, a teacher of visual arts at Abbeygate Sixth, had collaborated with the students on the artwork and it was part of a wider arts and education project on crime and punishment in and around the town, which Ms Gridley led.

The art banners drew on the crime and punishment collection at Moyse’s Hall Museum and responded to pieces from the current contemporary art exhibition, Urban Frame: Mutiny in Colour, also at Moyse’s Hall.

In response to the work being removed from the arc, members of the public shared their views under the article on the Bury Free Press Facebook page.

Ann Williamson said: “Come to where I live, I’d gladly display these. Such a huge shame but well done to the very talented students.”

Robert Cook said: “Oh dear our society has gone crazy!”

Deborah Barwick said: “’More than 10 people complained’ and how many enjoyed it? Poor kids. They don’t do anything they get moaned at, they created fabulous art with real meaning and it gets taken down.”

Stephen Wright said: “Having people complain about art means it's doing its job as art! Well done, get this into a gallery where it can be appreciated by those with an open mind.”

Sue Lloyd said: “This is very sad, I and my husband thought they brighten up a dull area. Why is it some people’s complaints are listen to when others are not. People need to live and let live. These students should be given lots of encouragement, not the negative of some people.”

Joanna Day said: “Art is subjective & having conversations and different reactions to it can only be positive, but this kind of censorship is extremely negative and pandering to it is a slippery slope. So what if you are offended by it, that's on you, not on everybody else to deal with.”

Lisa Lawrence said: “How disgraceful, these young people put their heart and souls into creating a piece of artwork, and ok it may not be everyone's cup of tea but to actively complain and then the subsequent removal of it is a travesty!!”

Sue Spiller said: “It made me feel very uncomfortable and did not appeal to me personally but it was depicting the uncomfortable subject of crime and punishment. It is criminal to remove it - it should be allowed to stay.”

Paul Jackson, chair of Bury St Edmunds Skatepark Experience, even offered the skatepark fencing on Olding Road as a substitute exhibition site.

Ms Gridley thanked him for his kind offer, but said she was currently still in discussion with project partners about finding a new location.

She told SuffolkNews, which includes the Bury Free Press: “Myself and the students have had some really productive discussions around themes of public art, censorship and society.

“We have been amazed at the strength of public support and are pleased people have taken the time to share their thoughts.

“We are hopeful we can work with our project partners to find a new home for the mural banners and thank those that have offered alternative sites in the meantime.”

On one Bury Facebook group views about the artwork being removed were more mixed, with one person commenting: “It wasn't the nicest imagery to be displaying in the town and perhaps imagery of weapons of violence was inappropriate.”

Speaking to SuffolkNews earlier this week, arc centre manager Allan Hassell apologised to the students and said the artwork had to be considered in the context of its location, which in the case of the arc was a family environment.

He said: “Some customers and residents found the images genuinely distressing, so I had to take the decision to remove the banners on Monday and look at new locations, which I am currently doing with the Apex and West Suffolk Council.”

There had been an information board with the banners to explain about the project, but this wasn’t installed as soon as the banners went up.