AustLit

'The inspiration for Moving Galleries came from public transport art and poetry initiatives from other countries. The oldest and most established initiative is 'Poetry on the Underground', launched in London in 1986. The success of the London project led to similar poetry and art initiatives involving established and emerging artists throughout Britain, Europe and the USA.

'In 2005, the Committee for Melbourne gathered a team of volunteers who created a non-profit project to foster young and emerging Victorian artistic talent and make creativity accessible in Melbourne's public spaces. The first Moving Galleries featured parallel programming of both student artwork, and public poetry on the Melbourne train system and saw 480 artworks travel around Melbourne on 20 Connex trains.

'Overwhelming community appreciation and support for Moving Galleries subsequently attracted funding to the project. In 2007, the project secured long-term funding enabling it to evolve from a 'one-off' exhibition to into an ongoing non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting creativity in Melbourne's public spaces. This time, 1440 artworks will travel on 40 Connex trains and poets from around Victoria are invited to submit their rooku.

'Moving Galleries is generously supported by the Victorian Government's Department of Infrastructure, Connex, Committee for Mebourne, our project partners, and by the initial team of volunteers who have all committed themselves long-term to the initiative as the Moving Galleries Advisory Committee.'

Source: Moving Galleries website, http://movinggalleries.org
Sighted: 17/03/2008