Birmingham National Express Coach Station public art installations unveiled the award winning art project to the public after months of planning and hard work.
Claire Farrell, Birmingham City University student and manager of the project, has implemented the designs in association with the new multi-million pound coach station in Digbeth. The 1.5 million passengers that are expected to use the station will be able to enjoy the work of the artists, Claire and the community created.
The art project won the Jaguar Land Rover Arts and Business Award 2009 despite being up against high profile, heavily funded competitors. They were awarded for the best partnership to encourage specific community engagement with the arts, while making a significant contribution to the regeneration and substantial growth in the region.
It is clear from Claire’s success that the skills she has learnt on her course at Birmingham City University have been put to good use.
As well as studying postgraduate Event and Exhibition Management, Claire runs her own business, EC- Arts, who have bought this regeneration success already.
The awards were held in London earlier in the year which Claire and the team were thrilled to win for their community project. Claire said,
“We hope this will give people a positive impression of Birmingham and lift the profile of the area.”
Claire explained the aim of the venture was to develop a visual catalyst for the regeneration of Digbeth and the rest of the city. This is something that visitors can see and gain an idea of what is to come from the rest of the regeneration.
The team have worked with Birmingham City Council’s ‘Big City Plan’ initiatives programme which aims to shape and revitalise the city centre over the next 20 years – guiding Birmingham’s economic, social and environmental future.
Birmingham City Council’s ambitious development will make Birmingham one of the top 20 most liveable cities in the world. The journey of regeneration starts at Digbeth coach station.
The project, managed by EC- Arts, is sponsored by the National Express and various other local Birmingham based companies. The ideas were created with community ideas, the culture of the area and local history in mind.
Reaching many throughout Birmingham, Birmingham City Council showed their full support, as Councillor Mike Whitby commented,
“I am delighted that visitors to Birmingham, who increase in number year-on-year, will now be able to access our city through such an excellent gateway.”
The project has not only given the people of Birmingham the chance to get involved in the future of their community it has left the city with something that can stand tall with pride and passion.
The art installations were launched in collaboration with the regeneration of Digbeth and the artists have worked together and with the community to produce three pieces that represent the history and future of the area.
‘The Boundary’ is a contemporary, fence that surrounds the entrance to the station that reaches heights of 6 meters in places. The artists, Rob Colbourne and Stuart Mugridge have painted the steel haunch sculptures in the traditional Midland bus red colour, which is in keeping with the history of the station.
Rob, who has lived in Birmingham all his life, said,
“The project has been a chance for us as artists to share ideas and work together, which we don’t always get the chance to do. We have hopefully achieved something that will greet visitors to the station.”
It is clear from the artists’ enthusiasm that they are interested in more than just making something that looks good. Stuart, who worked with Rob, added,
“We hope to raise the quality of the environment in the city, add to visitors’ everyday experience and give them something they can enjoy.”
You will also find the welcoming visual art piece, created by David Sherry, who wanted to reflect the area, known as the Irish Quarter.. The piece reads “a hundred thousand welcomes”, a saying that originates from the Irish and in turn represents the culture of Digbeth.
The short film that has been produced with local Aston residents can be viewed by us all in the new coach station waiting room. It looks to make more entertaining viewing than the usual cancellation and delay announcements that you would be likely to find on most coach station television screens.
Photographs taken by Birmingham City University student, Alex Jones.
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