Melbourne’s Trams have been given a splash of colour

Melbourne’s trams are brightening up your everyday commute, with the first art tram hitting the tracks as part of the Melbourne Festival and Art Trams initiative. Eight trams are hitting the city’s tracks until April next year offering Melbournians a creative contemporary art experience. 

The first Melbourne Art Tram for 2017 has hit the tracks with work designed by Victorian-based artist and graphic designer Bushra Hasan, an artist and graphic designer whose art is inspired by popular Indian street and tribal art. The inspiration for her tram design Tramjatra comes from her love for Melbourne’s trams and the unique friendship between the tram-loving communities of Kolkata in India and Melbourne, and a partnership with Melbourne trammie, Roberto D’Andrea.

A revival of the Transporting Art project that ran between 1987 and 1993, Melbourne Art Trams is a partnership between Melbourne Festival, Creative Victoria and Public Transport Victoria in collaboration with Yarra Trams, and forms a key part of Melbourne Festival’s visual arts program.

Quote attributable to Minister for Creative Industries, Martin Foley: “The Melbourne Art Trams project celebrates two distinctly Melbourne assets – our trams and our creativity. The project puts art at the centre of public life and acknowledges the powerful role creativity can play in many different areas – from public art, to public transport.”

Quote attributable to Melbourne Festival Artistic Director Jonathan Holloway: “Victoria is full of talented and inspiring artists and this year’s Melbourne Art Trams designs are among the best we’ve had. We’re thrilled to have to have this project as part of our visual arts program again.”

Quote attributable to Yarra Trams, CEO Nicolas Gindt: “It’s always fantastic to see Melbourne Art Trams on the city’s iconic tram network, spreading art across the community.”

Quote attributable to PTV Acting CEO, Alan Fedda: “Turning Melbourne’s trams into a moving canvas is a win for the artists and for our passengers who get to enjoy their work. PTV congratulates all the artists selected this year with a special shout out to the parents and pupils of St Albans Heights Primary School and Community Hub whose work features on this year’s Community Art Tram.”

The other artists who have designed the remaining seven trams are: Emma Anna, Josh Muir, Justine McAllister, Matthew Clarke, Oliver Hutchinson, Robert Owen and St Albans Heights Primary School and Community Hub (students and parents from the school in the north-west of Melbourne collectively developed the design for this artwork).

A People’s Choice award will be announced following the release of the trams, with the public able to vote for their favourite tram and be in the running for great prizes at: festival.melbourne/arttrams

The 2017 Melbourne Art Trams will remain on the tracks until April 2018.

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