The White Room (www.thewhiteroomcec.com) are developing an arts strategy for GMPTE - looking at how art might enhance the experience people have on Greater Manchester's transport network.

This blog will provide a window into this work; sharing quotes, vox-pops, and examples of cities across the world have fused public art with public transport to great effect.

We need your input in this process - there's no excuse to get involved - whether your an artist, a member of the public or one of our strategic partners...share your thoughts.
05 Oct 09
A lovely transport-inspired art project →

From the South Manchester Reporter…

“Artist Sarah Evans, 25 is collecting tales of love, lust and dating from bus passengers. She gives out stamped, addressed postcards on the 85 and 86 route for people to fill in and send back to her….”
25 Aug 09

When the Blues train rolled into Chorlton (1964)

http://www.southmanchesterreporter.co.uk/news/s/519720_when_the_blues_train_rolled_into_chorlton

24 Aug 09
Transported Art Strategy - Briefing Paper →

This is a link to the briefing paper that The White Room and Liam Curtin wrote for the Transported Art Strategy. It sets out the initial idea, along with some points of inspiration and was designed as a discussion piece for the forum event last month.

The draft strategy is now almost complete as well, and will be posted on here in due course. If you would like to make sure that you recieve a copy as soon as it is available, please send an email to info@thewhiteroomcec.com.
24 Jul 09
At our recent forum event that discussed how GMPTE could get involved with the arts, we met creative Louis Loizou, who has recently completed a series of photographs centred on people on public transport, in particular at bus stops. You can see his Travel Mancunia series’ at the following links: http://www.slide.com/r/1Xd6Tjeg4D99llv96RhSWw9wnJHYbrkI http://www.slide.com/r/c3igG7wo6T-anCRfOcHxvwOhvN1iaoFO

At our recent forum event that discussed how GMPTE could get involved with the arts, we met creative Louis Loizou, who has recently completed a series of photographs centred on people on public transport, in particular at bus stops. You can see his Travel Mancunia series’ at the following links:

http://www.slide.com/r/1Xd6Tjeg4D99llv96RhSWw9wnJHYbrkI

http://www.slide.com/r/c3igG7wo6T-anCRfOcHxvwOhvN1iaoFO


16 Jul 09

As part of our work in developing an arts strategy for GMPTE, The White Room took to the road via the 59 bus from Manchester City Centre to Oldham.

How would you use art on this route to make the journey more enjoyable?

BTW: In the interest of obeying copyright legislation, this track is missing the audio that it was originally synchronised to. However, you might want to listen to Jetstream by Doves whilst you play this back for full rousing effect!!!

16 Jul 09

Artist Simon Grennan sums up the The White Room’s Transported event, where the concept for GMPTE’s Arts Strategy was unveiled to 50 high-profile attendees including artists, creatives and representatives from key organisations in the sub-region. The concept really captured the imagination of the audience and solicited inspired responses. More information on this site soon!

In the meantime, apologies for the shaky camera on this. It’s what they call guerilla don’t you know!

16 Jul 09
Anywhere blogs was a project run in 2007 by Blink Media (http://blinkmedia.org/blog/?p=157) and funded by Arts Council England. It posed the question “Where were you happiest to arrive and why?” to passengers across the Greater Manchester bus network. Passengers could either text in their response, or read the responses given, which were also supplied via text message.The project received over 400 messages and 2000 requests to read the messages. Messages included:- Piccadilly is my best, because i found the love of my life there. Ten years strong. By jim of salford.- At ashton new road waiting for a bus to take me home from another one night stand!- Im lonely need company- The 8 to bolton every tuesday night for a couple of pints with the lads to break the working week. Can’t beat it!- Happiest to arrive back at the hospital the morning after my little girl had been born :-)- Arriving at stepping hill hospital after childline stopped my son from killing himself- Getting the bus to the hospital in time to see my brother before he died he was only 19- The 375 terminus at Shiloh Road - it has to be Manchester’s loneliest bus terminus, with sweeping moorland views- Rail replacement from stockport to sheffield the peaks are gorgeous today in the sunshine- It takes a lot of good humour and some lovely scenery to write that about the rail replacement bus service!- I am always happiest to arrive somewhere when i am late and it turns out that everyone else is late as well, especially on a sunny day!

Anywhere blogs was a project run in 2007 by Blink Media (http://blinkmedia.org/blog/?p=157) and funded by Arts Council England. It posed the question “Where were you happiest to arrive and why?” to passengers across the Greater Manchester bus network. Passengers could either text in their response, or read the responses given, which were also supplied via text message.

The project received over 400 messages and 2000 requests to read the messages. Messages included:

- Piccadilly is my best, because i found the love of my life there. Ten years strong. By jim of salford.
- At ashton new road waiting for a bus to take me home from another one night stand!
- Im lonely need company
- The 8 to bolton every tuesday night for a couple of pints with the lads to break the working week. Can’t beat it!
- Happiest to arrive back at the hospital the morning after my little girl had been born :-)
- Arriving at stepping hill hospital after childline stopped my son from killing himself
- Getting the bus to the hospital in time to see my brother before he died he was only 19
- The 375 terminus at Shiloh Road - it has to be Manchester’s loneliest bus terminus, with sweeping moorland views
- Rail replacement from stockport to sheffield the peaks are gorgeous today in the sunshine
- It takes a lot of good humour and some lovely scenery to write that about the rail replacement bus service!
- I am always happiest to arrive somewhere when i am late and it turns out that everyone else is late as well, especially on a sunny day!


16 Jul 09
The music doesn’t have to end when the Folk Train stops! Taken at Piccadilly Station by Nick Robinson, Feb 09. Posted by Bossa

The music doesn’t have to end when the Folk Train stops! Taken at Piccadilly Station by Nick Robinson, Feb 09.

Posted by Bossa


15 Jul 09
POST YOUR OWN THOUGHTS & IDEAS →
15 Jul 09

Vox Pops from the people of Manchester, with their thoughts about Art on Public Transport.

13 Jul 09

The End of the Line (A Brief Encounter) was a unique musical installation commissioned to create and direct a unique musical installation to fill the public spaces of Piccadilly station at the end of the day. This was created by Composer Peter Wiegold with the full engagement of Network Rail and its partners.

17 Jun 09
Or there’s the Folk Trains running from Manchester out to the Peak District with a full live folk band playing at no extra cost. http://www.hvhptp.org.uk/folktran.htm

Or there’s the Folk Trains running from Manchester out to the Peak District with a full live folk band playing at no extra cost.

http://www.hvhptp.org.uk/folktran.htm


17 Jun 09
Rapping Flight Attendant →

An example of someone who wanted to help liven up passengers travel experiences.
17 Jun 09
Maybe an installation such as this would help passengers to see the lighter side of the disruption caused by the Metrolink upgrades? sleevelessness: “It wasn’t meant to end like this” is a striking sculpture by always awesome Sydney, Australia based multi-disciplinary creative group The Glue Society. The installation was created as part of the Sculpture by the Sea festival in Aarhus, Denmark. via CR Blog

Maybe an installation such as this would help passengers to see the lighter side of the disruption caused by the Metrolink upgrades?

sleevelessness:

“It wasn’t meant to end like this” is a striking sculpture by always awesome Sydney, Australia based multi-disciplinary creative group The Glue Society. The installation was created as part of the Sculpture by the Sea festival in Aarhus, Denmark.

via CR Blog


17 Jun 09
What about our dis-used railways, bridges and stations. What could we do to liven them up? Picture taken from www.manchesterconfidential.com

What about our dis-used railways, bridges and stations. What could we do to liven them up?

Picture taken from www.manchesterconfidential.com