Student Art Project Brings Ipswich Station Footbridge to Life
A group of talented students from Suffolk New College have created several pieces of artwork that now adorn one of the footbridges at Ipswich rail station.
The East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership (CRP) funded the project which saw art and design learners from the college work together with the CRP and Greater Anglia to create 25 panels that reflect the sites, scenes and events that reflect Ipswich and the surrounding area.
Students were given a brief in 2020 with the work commencing back in 2021. The project was challenging as the work was done during the COVID pandemic alongside a renovation project at Ipswich station. The finished panels were installed by Greater Anglia inside the older of the two footbridges that span platforms 2 and 3 in March of this year.
Millie Perkins, an 18-year-old student from Aldeburgh who created one of the panels said: “It was great to be involved in a real life project. I’ve created a digital piece on the house in the clouds in Thorpeness. I think this (experience) will help me in the future.”
Student Aaron Lockwood said: It’s been a long process that started before lockdown. Our students were asked to create some work for the bridge as it was being renovated. It’s an interesting space and it has been good for the students to have their placed artwork in the real world. It’s been a good experience for them. It’s great for their development. All the work is related to Ipswich and Suffolk. We’d like to thank Greater Anglia, Ipswich rail station and the East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership for this opportunity.”
Aaron Taffera, Chair of the ESLCRP said: “We were delighted to facilitate this project that will help to bring the work of talented local students to a wider audience. We look forward to working together on more exciting projects in the future to help continue to build positive links between the railway and the communities it serves.”
Alan Neville, Greater Anglia’s Customer and Community Engagement Manager, said, “We are very grateful to the community rail partnership, Suffolk New College and of course, the talented artists who have transformed the footbridge into a vibrant art gallery following its refurbishment. The footbridge looks bright and welcoming and I’m sure the art works will be enjoyed by the many passengers that pass through Ipswich station every day.”
The project is one of several slated for the station which students from Suffolk New College are involved with.