The idea for a legacy arts project first took shape in 2016, while I was working on a public art trail installation in my hometown. This became the spark for something bigger and more ambitious - a project that could inspire young artists further afield to explore their creativity and the places they call home. 

A successful meeting with The Transpennine Upgrade Team became the catalyst for a new public art exhibition along the upgraded train route from Manchester Piccadilly to York

 

Social value for all

Our proposal pitch was put together, outlining the ambitious ideas and 'Routes to Roots - A Platform For Art' was born, starting at Greenfield station. This was a great success and led to the next phase at Ashton- Under- Lyne, which cemented the project as an important public art project with social value, not just for the students but the schools involved, as well as daily commuters and people visiting the station. 

A voice for young artists

I feel truly privileged to be working with art students through Routes to Roots — young creatives who are still discovering their own voice, and who now have a genuine opportunity to develop their practice and exhibit their work in a public setting for all to see. The students are celebrating the places they live, observing through a lens of past, present and future, thinking about what their hometown means to them. 

The work created by these talented young artists speaks for itself - now on display at three train stations along the transpennine train route, uplifting the daily commute for hundreds of visitors along their journey. I cant wait to see where the next leg of the journey takes us as we move onto the next stations along the route

First-time artists, moments to remember

Many of the students involved in the project have never created a piece of art to a set brief before, often completing the work in their own time alongside a full academic workload. Seeing one student's reaction to having her artwork displayed on a large sign above the entrance of her local train station is a moment I won't forget — these are the experiences that make the project worthwhile. Opportunities like this simply didn't exist when I was at school, and I know how much a platform like this would have meant to me at that age.

The power of art 

Work produced through Routes to Roots so far spans many different interpretations of the submission brief including iconic landscapes, architecture and portraits of local figures and family members, some of it moving enough to bring me to tears. One student created a piece in memory of her late mother, describing in her artist statement how the painting captured the essence of love and loss — with a depiction of a dove carrying her grief away. 

Looking ahead

As Routes to Roots continues to grow and develop, I hope to encourage more young artists to take that first step and push themselves forward, to try something out of their comfort zone. We will be heading towards Leeds with the next phase of the project, covering stations including Huddersfield, Dewsbury and Garforth. 

We have ambitious plans for the next stations along the route, and  I look forward to providing a spark of inspiration to more young artists as they navigate their next steps towards a fulfilling creative future. Many of the students are using their work created for Routes to Roots as an addition to their school portfolio for GCSE coursework, and also as part of their highly regarded Duke of Edinburgh Award. 

Art teachers - we need your help

If you are an art teacher at a school or college based in the Leeds, Huddersfield or York areas, please get in touch , we would love to hear from you. hello@chriscyprus.com 

Click the link for more information

Thanks to art teachers at Castle Hall Academy and The Mirfield Free Grammar & to our sponsors the Transpennine Route Upgrade for funding this worthwhile project. Watch the ITV News feature about Routes to Roots at Ashton-Under Lyne Station here 🔗