Art students at Sandon Business and Enterprise College have teamed up with an award-winning North Staffordshire artist in a project to improve Longton station.
The students, currently studying for a BTEC in Art, have been working with artist and sculptor Anthony Hammond during a number of special teaching sessions to develop a series of colourful and intricate artwork posters.
The posters for display in new poster cases on the underpass walls at Longton station focus on local tourist attractions that can be accessed using the North Staffordshire Line (Crewe-Stoke-Derby route) and the environmental benefits of rail travel.
The project was developed by North Staffordshire Community Rail Partnership to enable school students to work on community art to improve the environment of their local station at Longton.
Anthony and the students worked with a variety of paints and materials and recycled used rail tickets and printed rail timetables to create the artwork, which is being installed at the station.
The project was jointly funded by East Midlands Trains, members of the Partnership and train operator for the North Staffordshire Line, and the Designated Community Rail Development Fund (DCRDF).
The DCRDF, funded by the Department for Transport, Network Rail and the Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP), awarded the Partnership a grant of £1,500 for the project. East Midlands Trains’ Estates Team are carrying out repairs on the underpass walls, including an application of anti-graffiti paint, and have fitted new poster cases ready to receive the artwork.
Councillor Brian Ward, Stoke-on-Trent City Council Cabinet Member for Housing, Planning and Transportation, said: “This is the latest in a series of community art projects created by schools for the North Staffordshire Line and each has provided a real feature, appreciated by passengers, that has radically improved the station environment. We’re delighted that Sandon High students and artist Anthony have applied their creativity to deliver a series of eye-catching posters to brighten up Longton station.”
The artist Anthony Hammond added: “This project was a great opportunity for all parties involved to work in partnership for the community. The students came up with some really exciting and innovative ideas and have translated these into fascinating designs.”
Wendy Robertson, Senior Estates Manager for East Midlands Trains added: “We’re really happy to be supporting this project, which is a great example of how the local community can pull together and work alongside us to make some fantastic station improvements. We look forward to seeing the new artwork on display at Longton station and thank all the students for their energy and creativity in delivering this project.”
