So, like, there’s this massive sign in Stirling, right? It’s, like, 27 feet long and spells out ‘Stirling’. You can find this bad boy in the city centre, right across from the train station and near the bus station and some new travel networks. It’s, like, one of the first things you’ll see when you roll into the city.
They’ve also added some plants that are friendly to pollinators and some snazzy lighting to make the space look all pretty and safe and stuff.
This new installation, standing at a whopping two meters high, is the latest upgrade in the city centre. One side of it shows off a 30-foot artwork by artist David Galletly, capturing key moments from Stirling’s history. This artwork was unveiled during Stirling’s 900th-anniversary celebrations, so it’s a pretty big deal.
The city centre improvements were made possible thanks to funding from the Scottish Government’s Place Based Investment Programme and Scene Stirling, which is like a partnership in Stirling. This partnership is funded by Creative Scotland and managed by Artlink Central, who teamed up with Stirling Council to make all these cool installations happen.
Councillor Gerry McGarvey, who’s the big cheese at Stirling Council, said, “These upgrades in the city centre make it a nicer place for everyone to hang out in. Plus, it gives all the tourists who come to Stirling each year a good first impression of the city.”
“Stirling is known for its history and charm, but it’s also a happening place with lots to offer. This new installation really captures that mix of old and new, tradition and innovation. It goes perfectly with the mural celebrating Stirling’s 900th anniversary and the other improvements around the train station. It shows that we’re all about embracing the past while looking to the future with confidence.”
“I can’t wait to see all the selfies people take with this new backdrop. It’s gonna be epic!”
The public space where this sign is located has some history too. Back in the day, it used to be home to Blackfriars Church, a Dominican Friary in the 13th century. That’s how Friars Street got its name, in case you were wondering.
Kevin Harrison, the bigwig at Artlink Central and Scene Stirling, said, “We realized that Stirling needed a better welcome, so we did some audits and talked to residents and visitors. They told us that improved seating, signage, and artsy stuff can make the city a better place for everyone.”
“These cultural projects bring in money and support creativity while making our city centre more awesome.”
So, yeah, Stirling’s got this sweet new sign that’s making the city centre look all fancy and welcoming. It’s a cool addition to the area and definitely worth checking out if you’re in town.
