Bilston Outdoor Market Relaunch Event | July 2026

City of Wolverhampton Council | Bilston Market

The relaunch of Bilston Outdoor Market marked an exciting new chapter for one of the town’s most historic community spaces. To celebrate the reopening, the City of Wolverhampton Council invited me, along with my brilliant creative workshop partner Vicky Crowther, to deliver a single, large‑scale family workshop that would create a collaborative artwork for future display at the market.

The result was the Community Bunting Workshop — a simple, joyful, hands‑on activity where families decorated individual wooden bunting flags that would later be assembled into one collective installation. It was a celebration of Bilston’s identity, its people, and the pride they have in their market.

Decorate a Wooden Bunting Flag

The workshop centred around one core activity: Decorate a single wooden bunting flag to become part of a larger community artwork.

We provided:

• Pre‑cut wooden bunting flags

• Paint pens and markers

• Market‑inspired motifs

Families were invited to decorate their flag in any way they liked — patterns, symbols, words, drawings, memories, or colours inspired by Bilston Market. Some children drew fruit and veg stalls, others created abstract patterns, and a few added messages of joy for traders returning after the redevelopment.

The beauty of the activity was its simplicity. One flag per person. One moment of creativity. One contribution to a shared future artwork.

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The Atmosphere at the Relaunch

The relaunch day was full of energy: live entertainment, traders celebrating their return, families exploring the new layout, and a real sense of excitement about the market’s future. Our workshop table became a colourful pocket of creativity within the wider event.

Throughout the day, the bunting lines filled with decorated flags — each one different, each one personal, each one representing a voice from the community. Children proudly showed their flags to traders, and adults often paused to talk about their memories of the market.

It was a gentle, joyful way to mark the reopening.

Events like this simply wouldn’t be possible without Vicky, who supported the workshop throughout the day. Her calm organisation, humour, and ability to keep a busy table flowing smoothly meant families could drop in continuously without ever feeling rushed or lost.

Together, we welcomed a steady stream of visitors — parents, grandparents, children, traders, and curious passers‑by — all eager to leave their mark on the relaunch.

What Happens Next?

The bunting flags were collected by the Markets Team to be assembled into a future community display at Bilston Market. While I haven’t yet heard what the final installation will look like or when it will be unveiled, the workshop itself created a beautiful foundation — a shared artwork made by the people who use and love the market.

Reflections

Delivering the Bilston Outdoor Market Relaunch Community Bunting Workshop was a pleasure. The activity was simple, accessible, and rooted in Bilston’s identity, and families embraced it with enthusiasm.

Workshops like this help make civic events feel personal — giving people a chance to contribute creatively to spaces that belong to them.

I’m proud to have played a small part in the relaunch, and grateful to everyone who decorated a flag and helped build a collective artwork for Bilston’s future.