TRANSPORT CHARITY TO BENEFIT FROM TFL BUS ART
17 July 2014
Transaid has been chosen as a beneficiary charity for Transport for London’s Year of the Bus 2014 sculpture trail project.
TfL has commissioned 60 sculptures of New Routemaster buses to be painted by established and up and coming artists and displayed across London. The buses will be auctioned off at the end of the year with all proceeds being split between Transaid, Kids Company and the London Transport Museum.
The project is part of TfL’s wider Year of the Bus celebrations. The organisation decided to make 2014 the Year of the Bus, as alongside 60 years of the iconic Routemaster, this year also marks 75 years since the launch of the RT-Type bus and 100 years since the world’s first mass produced motor bus, the B-Type ‘Battle Bus’ which carried soldiers to the frontline during WW1.
The project which is being supported by creative design agency Wild in Art, will see the decorated buses make up five sculpture trails, which will weave their way through London taking participants on a journey and inviting them to discover the sights and sounds of the city, taking in parks, public spaces and tourist attractions.
Gary Forster, Transaid’s Chief Executive, says: “We are delighted to have been chosen as one of the beneficiary charities for such an exciting project. Buses are synonymous with the UK transport industry and the sculpture trail will enable members of the public to find out more about the important role of the bus.
“Transaid runs a number of projects throughout Africa which are centred on improving public transportation and so it feels very fitting that the proceeds of this scheme will allow us to keep those running.”
The sculptures which stand 1m high and 2m wide will be on display across London from September, with the charity auction due to take place at the end of November.
For more information about Transaid visit www.transaid.org and for further information about TfL’s Year of the Bus 2014 visit www.tfl.gov.uk/yearofthebus.
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Note to Editor:
Transaid (www.transaid.org) is an international development agency that aims to improve people’s quality of life in the developing world by making transport more available and affordable. It was founded by Save the Children and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK) and works by sharing skills and knowledge with local people to enable them to put in place and manage efficient transport systems.
Transaid’s core work includes creating transport management systems for the public sector and assisting with the provision of professional driving qualification development and the training of driver trainers. It also assists with teaching preventive vehicle maintenance management and introducing local, low cost transport solutions including its innovative bicycle ambulance. Transaid also helps promote HIV, AIDS and road safety awareness and shares its specialist knowledge with the humanitarian aid sector.
Transaid enjoys strong backing from the transport and logistics industry and the active involvement of its patron, HRH The Princess Royal.
For further press information:
Aggie Krasnolucka-Hickman at Transaid +44 (0)20 7387 8136
Faye McBride or James Keeler at Garnett Keeler +44 (0)20 8647 4467
TRAN/240/14
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