In April 2025, Council endorsed the jury selection of Swoop by Michelle Purchase and Agnes Niewiadomski as a new public artwork included in the renovation and expansion project currently underway at Mill Courtland Community Centre, following a three-stage open call competition.
Swoop will create a murmur of swallows above the community centre lobby area, reflecting a sense of motion and communal flow, with each bird woven out of locally sourced willow branches. Swallows and willows are symbolic of stability, resilience, protection and renewal.
The artists hosted a series of workshops in late 2025 and early 2026 for community members to contribute hand-woven swallows to the installation.
Swoop is planned to be installed in the renovated community centre in January 2027.