A pop-up exhibition to showcase the work of artists living with disabilities arrives at Birmingham New Street this week, before continuing its tour of Great Britain.
The travelling art exhibition, No Boundaries, which will be open to the public from 24th August – 15th September at Birmingham New Street Station, has been designed to encourage people with disabilities to travel without boundaries.
The 20-piece exhibition is made of artwork created by artists with a range of abilities, disabilities, age and artistic experience. The artists involved visited destinations across Britain using a Railcard, which saves customers a third off rail travel, to create artwork inspired by their experiences.
Tina Rowe, from London, travelled to Birmingham to find inspiration for her artwork. Titled ‘Along the Birmingham to Worcester Canal’, her artwork was created on cartridge paper.
Train travel was key to keeping Tina and her mother, who suffered a major stroke, together for years before she passed away last year. Tina used film and photography as a medium for exploring her mother’s memories of Birmingham in the 1930s and 40s. To Tina, travel without boundaries means using travel to feel close to her mum.
Telford-born artist, Mark Lloyd travelled to Aberystwyth to seek inspiration for his artwork. Mark, who is an artist with Autism, makes his pen, ink and felt tip pen works from memories of past journeys. Mark is a fan of train journeys and articulates his creative wishes through his art practice and is particularly fond of perspective drawing. Travelling without boundaries for him means to be able to travel without anxiety, safe in the knowledge that support is available to him.
As part of this exhibition National Rail teamed up with Guide Dogs, Scope, National Autistic Society, Royal Association for Deaf people, Stroke Association and Whizz-Kidz to generate awareness about the help and support available so that more people can talk and travel without boundaries.
Jyoti Bird, National Rail’s Marketing Director, explains: “We’re thrilled to be visiting Birmingham New Street as the National Rail No Boundaries exhibition travels around the country to inspire others to talk, travel and support each other without boundaries. One of the railway’s key commitments is to help more people take advantage of all of the opportunities that travelling by train opens up, which is why the National Rail website offers customers a range of tools and information to help customers plan and book their journeys with ease.
“We also offer a range of Railcards to help our customers save money on their rail travel. The money saved can then be used to make the most of the areas they are travelling to. This summer we launched our Digital Disabled Persons Railcard, which helps customers save 1/3 on rail fares for them and their companion for just £20 a year. With the introduction of digital Railcards customers no longer have to worry about losing, or forgetting, their Railcard and if the phone runs out of battery it can be transferred on to another smartphone.”
The exhibition will be at Birmingham New Street station until 15th September before travelling to Cardiff, Gatwick and Edinburgh. For more information more information about the exhibition, please visit: www.disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk/noboundaries
