Chesterfield residents are being encouraged to step up for a selfie – and become part of the town’s latest piece of public art – as part of an innovative project to celebrate the people and places of the borough.

More than a thousand local people are being offered the chance to have their face featured in a new ‘Love Chesterfield Mosaic’ which is being created by Chesterfield Borough Council to celebrate the growth and prosperity of the town.

The quirky project will create a striking piece of artwork to go on display in the town’s flagship Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre – one of many significant developments currently underway as part of the borough’s £1 billion growth programme.

Working in partnership with Chesterfield-based digital marketing company, noonah, the council will run a virtual photo booth throughout August where people can submit their photographs or selfies online. They will be able to choose from a selection of local landmarks to feature as their background.

There will also be two in-person events where people can get their snaps taken in the noonah Virtual Photobooth, for inclusion in the artwork.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, the council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “Chesterfield is a thriving borough with a lot to look forward to, and we want to celebrate our people and our places, as part of this creative project.

“We’re asking people to submit a photo online or join us at one of our events happening in the town centre to have a photo taken, for an opportunity to be part of our Love Chesterfield Mosaic.

“In total, 1,200 individual images will be combined to make a striking collage which will be displayed in the entrance of our new Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre.”

People are invited to take part in the in-person events on the days below, when they can have their photograph taken and printed out for them to place on the mosaic.

• Tuesday 10 August – from 9am to 5pm in Market Square next to McDonalds
• Saturday 14 August – from 9am to 5pm in New Square

Alternatively, people can visit the Love Chesterfield Mosaic Virtual Photo Booth to upload their own photo or scan a QR code which will be displayed in shop windows around the town centre.

Councillor Dean Collins, cabinet member for economic growth, added: “The new Enterprise Centre is central to the council’s commitment to supporting local businesses to prosper and flourish and will help to bring more skills and jobs to the borough.

“It’s at the heart of our Northern Gateway project which also includes improvements to this route into the town centre, with work currently underway on Elder Way.

“Our Love Chesterfield Mosaic will really capture and celebrate the spirit of our borough, and we’re looking forward to seeing the end result!”

People must be over 18 or have the permission of a parent or guardian, to submit a photo for inclusion. Images will be moderated before they are used as part of the project, to ensure all content is appropriate. Images must be submitted by 31 August 2021.

See the Love Chesterfield Mosaic take shape at https://mosaic.virtual-tech.io/lovechesterfield/

The project is part of the Love Chesterfield campaign which is being run by the council and Destination Chesterfield to encourage people to celebrate all that is great about the borough. Find out more.

The new Enterprise Centre will include 32 high quality office suites in a range of sizes to accommodate new and growing businesses. For more information about the project visit: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/developments/northern-gateway/