Hatfield Town Council has officially launched The Butterfly Effect, a new public art installation celebrating creativity, biodiversity and community partnership.

Unveiled at the end of January 2026, the project was delivered in partnership with Hertfordshire County Council and in collaboration with Butterfly Conservation and Digswell Arts Trust. The installation brings together art and environmental awareness in a public setting, inviting residents to engage with both creativity and conservation in their everyday surroundings.

Art, Environment and Public Space

Butterflies are powerful symbols of transformation and ecological sensitivity. The Butterfly Effect reflects on the importance of protecting local habitats while demonstrating how contemporary art can enrich civic spaces.

By situating the installation within Hatfield, the project creates a visible and accessible point of engagement — encouraging reflection, curiosity and dialogue about the natural environment.

Public art plays a vital role in strengthening community identity. Projects such as this ensure that creativity is not confined to galleries, but embedded within daily life.

The Artists

The installation features work by:

• Angela Bull
• Liberty Burrough (Digswell Arts Fellow)
• Magdalena Gluszak (Digswell Arts Fellow)

Digswell Arts Fellows Liberty Burrough and Magdalena Gluszak bring distinctive artistic approaches to the butterfly theme, contributing thoughtful and visually compelling works that respond to ideas of transformation, fragility and interconnectedness.

Their involvement highlights the strength of creative practice within the Digswell Arts community and reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting artists working in the public realm.

A Collaborative Commitment

The Butterfly Effect demonstrates the value of strong collaboration between local authorities, environmental organisations and artist-led charities. Through partnership, the project has created an installation that is both culturally enriching and environmentally meaningful.

Anton Psak, Trustee at Digswell Arts Trust, said:

“Projects like The Butterfly Effect show how artists can contribute meaningfully to civic life. When art is placed in the public realm, it becomes part of everyday experience — it invites reflection, sparks conversation, and connects people more closely to their environment. We are proud to support our Fellows in creating work that engages directly with the community.”

At Digswell Arts, we believe artists play a significant role in shaping the cultural life of Hertfordshire. Through residencies, exhibitions and collaborative commissions, we support artists to develop ambitious work while engaging wider audiences.

We are proud to have collaborated on The Butterfly Effect and are delighted to see the work now enjoyed by the Hatfield community.