Melbourne’s architecture-inspired Art Trams revealed

The nine winning architecture-inspired designs for the Melbourne Art Trams developed for the 2015 Melbourne Festival have been unveiled, and will soon be appearing on the city’s vast tram network.

The third year of the project was themed “Architecture and the city”, and aimed to encourage reflection on the city’s architecture, urban planning and interiors. 

The Melbourne Festival will run from 8 to 25 October, and the Melbourne Art Trams project is a key element of the event’s visual arts program.

Melbourne Festival artistic director Josephine Ridge said that she was looking forward to seeing the designs on the tracks.

“Victoria is bursting with talented and inspiring artists who are as keen as we are to see art take to the streets to enrich our daily lives,” she said. 

Melbourne Art Tram design by Bird & Adams, a collaboration between architect Matthew Bird and choreographer Philip Adams. Image:  Courtesy of the Melbourne Festival.
Melbourne Art Tram design by Bird & Adams, a collaboration between architect Matthew Bird and choreographer Philip Adams. Image:  Courtesy of the Melbourne Festival.
Melbourne Art Tram design by abstract landscape artist Louise Forthun. Image:  Courtesy of the Melbourne Festival.

Over 145 proposals for the tram designs were put forward after the $40,000 commission was announced. Members of the public will be able to vote for their favourite design through a People’s Choice Award that will take place in October.

Creative industries minister Martin Foley said that the designs reflect the unique character of Melbourne’s creative community.

Melbourne Art Tram design by typographer and type designer Stephen Banham Image:  Courtesy of the Melbourne Festival.
Melbourne Art Tram design by photographic artist James Voller. Image:  Courtesy of the Melbourne Festival.
Melbourne Art Tram design by artist Kathy Temin. Image:  Courtesy of the Melbourne Festival.

“This year’s selected designs reflect the diversity of our local creative industries – from a collaboration between an architect and a choreographer to works by a typographer, a street artist and a student designer,” he said.

Each winning artist will receive $5,000 for their design, with the People’s Choice winner eligible for an additional $5,000.

The project represents the revival of the Transporting Art program that the state government ran from 1978 to 1993. During that period, 36 trams were repainted with designs by artists including Mirka Mora, Michael Leunig and Howard Arkley.

Melbourne Art Tram design by mixed media visual artist Martine Corompt. Image:  Courtesy of the Melbourne Festival.
Melbourne Art Tram design by visual artist Amanda Morgan. Image:  Courtesy of the Melbourne Festival.
Melbourne Art Tram design by emerging artist and student Tom Vincent. Image:  Courtesy of the Melbourne Festival.

The 2015 winners include:

  • Bird & Adams, a collaboration between architect Matthew Bird and choreographer Philip Adams
  • Abstract landscape artist Louise Forthun
  • Typographer and type designer Stephen Banham
  • Photographic artist James Voller
  • Artist Kathy Temin
  • Visual artist Amanda Morgan
  • Mixed media visual artist Martine Corompt
  • Emerging artist and student Tom Vincent.

The selected designs will be applied to the trams using a vinyl wrap and the trams will be in circulation on the city’s network until April 2016.


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