A community artwork celebrating the theme of ‘connections’ has been unveiled at Coventry Station by the Heart of England Community Rail Partnership (CRP) and Coventry Artspace.
Featuring 10 unique pieces of art created by local artist Donna Preece-Jones with participants from the Life Path Trust, a charity that supports people with learning disabilities, the CONNECTIONS exhibition celebrates the things that connect us to each other and the world around us.
This year’s project was funded by Avanti West Coast and is part of a wider volunteering programme managed by the Heart of England CRP, which involves the adoption of Coventry Station by a group of participants from the Life Path Trust.
Artist Donna was commissioned to work with the adopters over a series of four sessions, designed to encourage connection through the creative processes of painting and collaging.
Julia Singleton-Tasker, lead officer at the Heart of England CRP, said: “We love our weekly sessions with the adopters from the Life Path Trust at Coventry Station, and being able to provide this opportunity for them to work with Donna to create such beautiful artwork was a real privilege.
“Not only are the volunteers bringing colour and life to the station through the planting, but they have now been given the opportunity to share their colourful personalities in the artwork adorning a previously dull, functional subway. We want stations to be places that reflect their local communities, and this is the second exhibition we’ve now hosted in the space, with the aim of more to come in the future.”
Joanna Buckley, community manager at Avanti West Coast, said: “Avanti West Coast is committed to connecting people with places and opportunities. We want our stations to be an integral part of the communities they serve, and this project is a great example of how we can bring extra life and energy to our stations. A big thank you must go to everyone, especially Life Path Trust, who are a big part of our team.”
Adam Hives, CEO of the Life Path Trust, said: “The Life Path Trust group has had an incredible journey working alongside the local community, culminating in the fantastic art exhibition now on display at Coventry Station. We started by tending to the station’s planters and this has now blossomed into a collaboration with artist Donna, resulting in beautiful artworks.
“This exhibition not only showcases the artistic skills of our group but also highlights their strong ties to the Coventry community. Through this project, our team has forged meaningful relationships and showcased their pride in enhancing the local environment.”
Keep up to date with future news, projects and events from the Heart of England CRP via their website.
