Tamworth bus shelter to get wild makeover in new project

A Tamworth bus shelter will be given a wild makeover as part of this year’s Tamworth in Bloom campaign, and to mark the launch of a brand new community project which will bring art to bus shelters across the borough.

Tamworth artist Simon Wingfield will be transforming a bus shelter on Peelers Way, Kettlebrook, throughout the day on Sunday, July 16th, with the theme ‘Wild About Tamworth’, in conjunction with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust. Anyone passing by will be able to witness the striking work of art taking shape, as Simon spray paints large images of birds onto the shelter.
As the bus stop (which backs on to the Tame Meadow Local Nature Reserve) is on the route the Heart of England in Bloom judges will take through the town on Tuesday, July 18th, it has been chosen as the first to be given an artistic makeover to launch a major new project coming to the town this autumn.

‘Catch Art’, part of the two-year Arts in Unusual Spaces initiative, will see a number of bus shelters being given a new lease of life. The project is being led by Vic Brown, of Art Recruitment Tamworth, who also organises the popular Urban Arts Festival which takes place every year at the Castle Grounds’ skate park.
Vic will now spend the next few months working with local artists and school children to come up with designs for at least six bus shelters in areas including Amington, Glascote Heath, Stonydelph and Coton Green.

Some will be designed by professional artists, such as Simon Wingfield, who painted the local landmarks depicted on underpasses at Riverdrive, and some will be designed by the town’s youngsters.

Vic said: “We think the general public will like what we have planned this autumn to follow on from the Wild About Tamworth stop on Peelers Way.

“We have already received some great artwork from pre-school children and will be holding workshops in schools from September to get more youngsters involved.”
Catch Art is just one of a number of fantastic projects being delivered by Tamworth Borough Council’s Arts and Events team to bring art to new and unusual spaces during the closure of Tamworth Assembly Rooms.

Cllr Joy Goodall, Tamworth Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Environment and Culture, said: “The idea behind Catch Art is to bring art to all areas of the town. We also wanted to involve the local community by inviting artists and school children to come up with colourful designs which will then be displayed on the bus shelters for all to see.
“It made sense to launch the project with a bus shelter on the Tamworth in Bloom judging route and we hope this will help us in our quest to win gold for the eighth year in a row.
“The artist’s impression for the Peelers Way bus shelter is certainly very striking and I can’t wait to see the final result on Sunday. I’m also looking forward to seeing what the rest of the project has in store later in the year.”