Public transport posters created by two very different generations of Manchester art students are being exhibited for free at Manchester Central Library.
Students from the Manchester School of Art were invited to respond to a range of vintage posters created by their predecessors at the school in the 1930s, as part of a joint project involving Manchester Metropolitan University, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and Manchester City Council.
A free exhibition of their work is being held in Central Library’s Lower Ground exhibition area, running until the end of August 2014.
Natasha Campbell’s designs were judged best overall out of the 29 entries and her work is displayed on two boards in the exhibition. Ten runners-up have their work exhibited on one board each, with slideshows of work produced by other students also on view.
Some of the original 1930s travel posters – which were created to encourage people to use trams and buses to explore Greater Manchester – are being exhibited in at the Library’s interactive Archives+ Centre and can also be viewed at http://posters.manchester.gov.uk, with prints available to purchase.
TfGM intend to display Natasha’s winning design on the Metrolink network this autumn.
Joe McCullagh, Head of Design and Associate Dean at the Manchester School of Art, said: ‘It is a real pleasure for our staff and students to be part of this historic initiative and partnership. At the school and university, we are delighted that the work has been so well received.
“The illustration and graphic work created by our students in the exhibition is exceptional and acts as a lovely complement to the originally commissioned work by Manchester School of Art students from the 1930s. We hope that this is the start of many further creative initiatives with our partners and are excited that this work is being made public at Central Library and through TfGM networks.’
