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Winner of the Jaguar Land Rover Arts & Business Community Award

“Art not separate from experience...environment is a process of interaction” (John Dewey)

In January 2008 National Express appointed EC-Arts to project manage and implement a public art strategy which fully integrates the community & young people within the process. With an additional objective to market the project and permanent work to new audiences. National Express recognised the opportunity of integrating public art within the new Digbeth Coach Station as part of their £15 million redevelopment of the site, and allocated an additional £366,000 in public art within an important area of Birmingham.

Digbeth Public Art Project (DPAP) spearheaded by National Express to implement a public art strategy for the new National Express Coach Station, Digbeth, Birmingham. The Coach Station is one of the main entry points to the city with 1.5 million arrivals & departures to the city per year. There is an opportunity for the commission of two permanent public artworks to be sited at the Station, which will be recognised alongside other landmarks as iconic images for the city and wider region. The installations will celebrate the culture and pride of the local community, balancing heritage with contemporary considerations and reflecting the creative, innovative and industrious nature of the city.

The aim of the project is to create permanent, innovative public art with a strong visual impact that will symbolise and herald the importance of Digbeth Coach Station as a gateway to Birmingham. The public art process is fully integrated with artists working closely with the community and arts awards young people that are taking part in the project. The artwork will reflect this collaborative process and the culture of Digbeth with installations that celebrate the local community and heritage.

DPAP consists of three permanent artistic commissions:

• ‘Boundary’ designed by artists Rob Colbourne & Stuart Mugridge
• A Visual Art Commission for the Irish Quarter designed by artist Dave Sherry
• ‘A Short film’ produced by a group of young people as part of their Silver Arts Award qualification

‘Boundary’
The ‘boundary’ commission is part of Digbeth Public Art project (DPAP), and will be installed at the new National Express coach station in Digbeth. In essence the boundary fence of the Coach Station will be public art in both form and function. Spanning the perimeter and visible from various locations it will immediately impact on the public in the improved aesthetics of the local area.

Appointed artists Rob Colbourne & Stuart Mugridge developed the ‘Boundary’ after extensive historical & heritage research, consideration of the area and community engagement was key within the creative process.

‘Irish Quarter Visual Art’
The Irish Quarter Visual Art commission designed by artist Dave Sherry is part of ‘Digbeth Public Art Project’ (DPAP). The artist commission will create a permanent visual art installation to be sited at 321, Bradford Street which is the entrance to the new National Express coach station. The site is within the significant area of Digbeth that ‘welcomes’ 1.6 million visitors per year to the Coach station in Birmingham, and sees 60,000 people visit for St Patricks day every year. The visual art installation will represent the Irish Quarter and encapsulates the history and vitality of the area, creating a landmark for the Irish Quarter and the City.

‘Short Film’
A short Film has been commissioned to document the unique and energizing developments for ‘Digbeth Public Art Project’ sited at the new National Express coach station in Digbeth, Birmingham. It will document the public art process, community engagement, artist interviews, workshops, events and the fabrication and installation process. The documentary film will be made by a group of young people as part of their Silver Arts Award challenge. A professional film crew has mentored the young people to develop new skills and learning opportunities. The film will be a permanent digital media installation situated within the new coach station waiting room to heighten visitor’s awareness of the public art and the rich history of the area.

For more information please contact Claire@ec-arts.com

Commission completion in December 2009 as part of the Coach Station redevelopment