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DARK and dingy empty shopfronts are being transformed with bright and colourful murals in an innovative art project. The project uses the skills of local artists to create temporary murals to adorn the windows of vacant CBD shopfronts. The brainchild of local man Chas Cleland, the project will transform four windows with colourful artworks before Christmas and a fifth by the end of January. The first mural was installed in the former Warehouse Sales Electrical store in Liebig Street on Sunday. Artists Liz Gannon and Ella Webb collaborated on the geometrical piece that features a black and white background and a colourful fish design at its centre. Mr Cleland said the inspiration for the project came after seeing a decorated empty shop window in Prahran. “I took a photo of it, put it on Facebook and said ‘is this possible in Warrnambool?” he said. “It took off from there. All the comments have been really positive and the building owners and real estate agents all came on board. “It only took 16 days to confirm it was a goer and 30 days for the first mural to be installed.” He said the first installation had received “incredibly positive” feedback. “I posted a photo to the Facebook page on Sunday night and people have been making comments and sharing the image all over the place,” Mr Cleland said. The temporary murals are designed to be removed after six months or when the shop is leased. The former Micheli Jewellers, Sportsco and ANZ bank buildings are next in line for the colourful treatment with artists Fiona Clarke, Carolyn Payne and Damien McDonald taking charge of each window respectively. Mr Cleland said businesses and individuals were sponsoring each of the creations to help cover any costs associated with producing the murals. Country Impressions and Baby Impressions have sponsored the first installation. “The traders have been happy to put money into something they think will work,” he said. “The aim is to instantly revitalise the streets and make it an attractive and colourful place to shop and work.”

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