A NEW mural will be unveiled tomorrow (Saturday, March 8) at a free, creative community event inside Redditch Bus Station and Kingfisher Centre.
‘Jump on Board: Stories and Dreams of our 57/58 Bus Route’ will be installed overnight and then unveiled to the public with a short ceremony inside the bus station at 12pm.
Creative family activities will follow in the Kingfisher Centre from 12.15pm until 3pm.
The ‘Thought Baubles’ artworks, which influenced the design of the final mural, and the stories behind them, will also be on display.
The massive, six-metres-wide public artwork has been co-created by artist Thomas Cross and residents of Redditch through a series of creative workshops exploring what the town means to these communities.
The Jump on Board project is led by Bound Together CIC, working with Diamond Bus, and is just one of Reimagine Redditch’s five Community Makers commissions.
Richard Bromhall, programme director for Reimagine Redditch, said: “We know that plenty of people in Redditch have really great creative ideas.
“Our Community Makers commissions bring together Redditch artists and community organisations to co-create the art they want, where they want it.
“With the help of Diamond Bus, you can ‘jump on board’ to see the new mural at Redditch Bus Station.”
Alison Osborne, director of Bound Together CIC, said: “Jump on Board has been an amazing collaboration within the Redditch community.
“I am really excited to see if people can spot their story in the wonderful mural they created with Thomas Cross.
“Thank you to the community for choosing our commission idea when we asked you to. The Community Makers commission programme has been a great experience.”
Thomas Cross, a talented visual storyteller, specialises in co-created community projects across hospitals, libraries, and theatres.
His experience helps participants feel at ease, regardless of their skill or experience level.
He said: “We have created a unique artwork which I hope will inspire more creative journeys for everybody across Redditch.”
Kevin Collins, operations manager for Diamond Bus Redditch, added: “Diamond Bus is proud to be working with Bound Together CIC and Reimagine Redditch to support this great community event celebrating the communities on the 57/58 bus route.
“The route has been part of the Diamond Redditch Network for many years and provides a key link connecting these local communities together.”
