Our City & Beyond: Oxford Rd Edition
A creative collaboration between artists, schools and communities
As part of this project we have started work with a diverse range of communities across Manchester, from professional artists to school children and will eventually even work with commuters, daily travellers and staff at the station. The resulting artwork, developed collaboratively with communities and artists, will be unveiled in 2027.
What is Our City and Beyond?
Delivered by HOME in partnership with Network Rail and with support from Manchester City Council, Transport for Greater Manchester and Northern, this 18-month projects marks the beginning of a new, collaborative approach to how we better present and position our stations and their surrounding environments within the city.
The programme is not a one-off artwork or isolated engagement project. It is intended to be the foundation phase of delivering placemaking improvements that position Manchester Oxford Road Station within the cultural and creative fabric of the city - and to build a network of partners who actively contribute to that vision.
The programme is already acting as catalyst for facilitating additional placemaking opportunities. The next visible improvement will transform the neglected 59-61 Whitworth Street arch frontages through creative treatment and artwork, that will significantly improve the street environment, whilst longer term plans are developed.
Network Rail is funding this initial phase to establish momentum in creative placemaking to improve our station environment for our passengers, city-dwellers and surrounding communities. To demonstrate intent and create a credible platform for wider collaboration and co-investment.
What the Programme will Deliver
- A new co-curated artwork at the former Screen One building. Additional opportunities for new artworks will be facilitated – inclusive of Whitworth Street arch frontages that is currently underway
Creative engagement with schools, passengers and communities.
Events and exhibitions that animate the station environment.
A structured partnership model that opens the station to cultural and civic collaborators.
