Adopt A Bus Shelter Art Project
Overview
The North East Combined Authority and Durham County Council, approached Spennymoor Town Council in 2025, to explore the possibility of a co-funded community arts project across communities within the Town Council’s jurisdiction which would highlight our bus shelters, encouraging people to value and use our county's public transport network.
The year long project worked with schools and community groups around five identified bus shelters managed by the Town Council. Five local artists were commissioned to create vibrant installations in each bus shelter, celebrating the history, heritage and community of each area through public art.
The year long project worked with schools and community groups around five identified bus shelters managed by the Town Council. Five local artists were commissioned to create vibrant installations in each bus shelter, celebrating the history, heritage and community of each area through public art.
Community Engagement
Each bus shelter was chosen because of its proximity to a local primary or secondary school, as well as nearby community centres, clubs and organisations.
Each artist was allocated one bus shelter and delivered a workshops in local schools, alongside sessions with community groups. These workshops generated images and ideas that the artists incorporated into their final designs. The artists then returned to share the finished designs before the installations were placed in situ with representatives from the participating groups.
Documentary filmmakers, Lonely Tower Film and Media, captured footage and soundbites throughout the project to help tell the story of the places, work and the people involved.
Each artist was allocated one bus shelter and delivered a workshops in local schools, alongside sessions with community groups. These workshops generated images and ideas that the artists incorporated into their final designs. The artists then returned to share the finished designs before the installations were placed in situ with representatives from the participating groups.
Documentary filmmakers, Lonely Tower Film and Media, captured footage and soundbites throughout the project to help tell the story of the places, work and the people involved.
Goals and Legacy
The project raised awareness of local public transport networks.
It involved a wide range of people in creating public artwork for their own communities, helping to build a sense of place and creating vibrant installations that celebrated local heritage and community spirit.
Similar to the Mural Festival, the installations formed a trail around the different communities of Spennymoor.
Through the workshops, research, heritage learning, art and design activity created a lasting legacy, particularly for schools, where the work could be built upon through future teaching and learning.
The installations helped to encourage positive use of the bus shelters and aimed to deter negative and anti-social behaviour by involving young people in the creation of the artwork.
Five local artists worked on the project and developed relationships with schools, communities and fellow artists involved in the programme.
It involved a wide range of people in creating public artwork for their own communities, helping to build a sense of place and creating vibrant installations that celebrated local heritage and community spirit.
Similar to the Mural Festival, the installations formed a trail around the different communities of Spennymoor.
Through the workshops, research, heritage learning, art and design activity created a lasting legacy, particularly for schools, where the work could be built upon through future teaching and learning.
The installations helped to encourage positive use of the bus shelters and aimed to deter negative and anti-social behaviour by involving young people in the creation of the artwork.
Five local artists worked on the project and developed relationships with schools, communities and fellow artists involved in the programme.
Documenteries
Spennymoor
The designs in this bus shelter were created by artist Nocciola the Drawer with help and ideas from the pupils of King Street Primary School and the local community at Spennymoor Youth and Community Centre.
Tudhoe
The designs in this bus shelter were created by artist Sarah Carlton with help and ideas from the pupils of Tudhoe Colliery Primary School and Tudhoe Community Centre.
Byers Green
The designs in this bus shelter were created by artist Jackie Stonehouse with help and ideas from the pupils of Byers Green Primary School.
Kirk Merrington
The designs in this bus shelter were created by artist Olga Ayre with help and ideas from the pupils of Kirk Merrington Primary School and Kirk Merrington Community Centre.
Middlestone Moor
The designs in this bus shelter were created by artist Lewis Hobson with help and ideas from the pupils of Middlestone Moor Primary School and the local community.
