Stockport art project wins at Cheshire Best Kept Stations Awards

• Stockport community art project supported by Avanti West Coast wins Cheshire Best Kept Stations Award
• Largescale installation created by local people is welcoming gateway to station
• Series of individual art pieces captures landscapes and heritage along railway lines

Stockport station has been recognised at the Cheshire Best Kept Stations Awards for its largescale art installation that celebrates people and places local to the railway.

Titled ‘A view from a train window’ the installation, which is formed of 50 individual artworks, won the Art Project Award at the annual prestigious awards ceremony.

Representing views from train windows on rail journeys to and from Stockport, each art piece was created by local artists and the community, as part of a project by South East Manchester, Crewe to Manchester and Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnerships (CRPs).

Judges praised the “colossal project”, which resulted in a “striking” series of art that is displayed on a large dominating wall along the pavement on Edgeley approach – a thoroughfare to the station.

At either end of the arrangement is an illustration of the driver’s cab of a Pendolino – transforming the wall into the iconic train, which serves Stockport.

Funded through Avanti West Coast’s Community Rail Project Fund, the initiative aimed to provide a welcoming gateway with a bright feature that captures the landscapes and heritage along the lines covered by each of the CRPs.

The support received from Avanti West Coast, who manage Stockport station, enabled the CRPs to fund workshops by the ARC (Arts for Recovery in the Community) Centre – an arts and mental health charity who work across Greater Manchester to provide arts programmes and services to improve people’s mental wellbeing.

Macclesfield station, which is also managed by Avanti West Coast, was commended in the Chris Dale TravelWatch Award for Large Stations. It is judged by members of TravelWatch North West – an independent organisation representing all users of public transport in the North West of England - using their expertise on what railway stations should be providing.

Lisa Musgrave, Avanti West Coast Station Manager at Stockport, said: “We want our stations to be welcoming gateways to the people and places they serve, so we’re delighted this unique artwork has been recognised at these prestigious awards. By bringing together organisations and charities, this creative project by our local Community Rail Partnerships has helped people of all ages connect with the railway, resulting in a series of art that reflects the local area.  

“The artwork has transformed part of the station showcasing the talent of local people, as well as the nearby destinations and landmarks easily reached by train. This award is a testament to everyone who contributed to this fantastic project, and we hope encourages more people to travel by trail to enjoy Cheshire’s beautiful landscapes.”

John Hulme BEM, founder and president of Cheshire Best Kept Stations, said: “Cheshire Best Kept Stations is now 23 years old, so you can imagine I have spent a great deal of time judging stations across the county. The art project at Stockport is among the finest I have seen in all those years, not only for its visual content but for the strength of the creative partnership between Avanti West Coast and the organisations it works alongside. It succeeds in celebrating places while also capturing the true spirit of community rail.”

ENDS