A great opportunity is available to Kāpiti artists with an interest in how the region’s public transport looks with a new competition being launched.
Enter Metlink’s public art competition and if you win, your creation could soon adorn one of the region’s buses, trains or harbour ferries.
The competition is a first for Metlink, Greater Wellington Regional Council’s public transport arm. The Regional Council plans for and funds Metlink bus, train and ferry services.
Participants need to create a piece of art which brings to life the theme, “It’s Your Transport”. Once competition entries have been submitted, a panel will short-list them and these entries will be put to the public vote. The most popular designs will then be produced and turned into ‘wraps’ on two trains, various buses and a harbour ferry. Some entries will also be produced as posters.
Peter Glensor, Chair of the Council’s Economic Wellbeing Committee, says he hopes the competition will raise people’s awareness of the region’s great public transport services. “For a region of less than half a million people, we have a fantastic public transport network. Our new Matangi fleet has taken travelling by train to a whole new level, we have great bus services throughout the region with real time information available for most of these, and there’s nothing more enjoyable on one of Wellington’s many stunning days than a jaunt across the harbour on a ferry.
“Public transport means different things to different people. For some, it’s where they often meet friends or acquaintances, for others it’s an opportunity to take time out, catch up on emails, listen to music or watch the world go by, while for others it’s their only way of getting from A to B.
“It will be really interesting to see how people express artistically what public transport means to them. And the chance to have your artwork on display on a bus, train or ferry buzzing around the region is a tremendous opportunity.”
Information about the competition is being sent to every school and a large number of tertiary institutions in the region. “So we’re hoping to get a really good number of entries from students who are big public transport users. Of course the competition is open to all, so I’d encourage everyone to get creative.”
Entries need to be with Metlink by Friday 3 May, voting will take place during May and it’s expected the winning artworks will begin appearing on buses, trains and a harbour ferry around the middle of this year.
All details and specifications are available at www.metlink.org.nz/itsyourtransport
