Project Overview
‘Changing Tracks’ was a contemporary visual and digital art project that facilitated the creation of nine new temporary outdoor artworks in three countries by three international artists as part of the European Union’s Culture Programme 2007 - 2013.
The artworks responded to former railway lines, their heritage and local environment in Northamptonshire (UK), Mayo (IE) & Catalonia (CAT) and in each instance were situated on or adjacent to disused railway lines now used as walking or cycle paths.
The nine artworks (three in each participating region; one artwork by each artist) remained in-situ until the end of the summer 2014. The Irish edition of the project was situated along the Great Western Greenway - the former railway connecting Westport to Achill.
The Irish edition of ‘Changing Tracks’ was launched in Westport, Co. Mayo, on 12th July 2014. [Launches also took place in Tortosa (30th May), Girona & Olot (14th June) and Northamptonshire (15th August)].
Partners to the project include Northamptonshire County Council (UK), Mayo County Council (Ireland) and Consortium Transversal, Cultural Activities Network from Catalonia (Spain). Gaynor Seville, Public Art Co-ordinator managed the project on behalf of Mayo County Council.
Following a series of site visits to each participating region, the selected artists developed their proposals through engagement with respective local communities, arts organisations and associated workshop activities and events, and installed the new artworks in each respective region during the summer of 2014.
The primary intention of the project is to engage new audiences for contemporary art by placing the artworks in a non-traditional exhibition / display environment, thereby removing barriers to participation and providing opportunities to engage with a wide range of leisure and recreational users e.g. walkers, cyclists, families, fishers, and local community groups e.g. heritage, schools, colleges and local tourism businesses.
Visit the Changing Tracks website here.