Officeworks has jumped aboard the Melbourne Art Trams initiative, providing support to Melbourne International Arts Festival for the annual project which showcases original designs by Victorian artists on the city’s iconic trams.
Officeworks General Manager Marketing, Jess Richmond, said: ”We’re really excited to be supporting the Melbourne Art Trams initiative for 2019-2020 as the Principal Partner. Officeworks is all about helping making bigger things happen for creative Australians with our huge art supplies range, so it was only fitting that we got behind this initiative that celebrates local artists and the arts community more broadly.”
The Melbourne Arts Trams project is a revival and re-imagining of the seminal Transporting Art program which ran from 1978 to 1993 and resulted in 36 hand-painted trams being rolled out across the Melbourne network. The project was relaunched in 2013 through a creative collaboration with Melbourne International Arts Festival, Creative Victoria, Public Transport Victoria and Yarra Trams, and in 2019 Officeworks has joined the team as the new Principal Partner.
Melbourne International Arts Festival Head of Development, Nathan Reynolds said: “Melbourne Art Trams is a much-loved public art project that perfectly encapsulates Melbourne’s cultural identity. It’s fitting that we have partnered with another much-loved brand in Officeworks, whose range of art supplies enables customers to get creative and express their ideas through art. We’re looking forward to working with Officeworks to grow the reach and impact of the art and stories that lie at the heart of this iconic project.”
Now in its seventh year, project has announced seven new artist commissions and one re-creation of an original art tram to be transformed into eight major mobile artworks this October.
Renowned Australian artist and one of the original tram designers Lesley Dumbrell will have her 1986 tram design re-created to fit a modern tram in this special event. Designs by Kent Morris, Nusra Latif Qureshi, and emerging artists Vandal, Sophie Westerman, Gene Bawden, Nyein Chan Aung and a grade 3 collective from Beaconhills will be represented in the public art project.
Managing Director of Initiative Melbourne, Sarah James said: “As the media communications partner for Officeworks, we are constantly looking for relevant partnerships and cultural environments that elevate Officeworks’ connection to their audience. Supporting Victorian artists through the Art Trams project is an ideal platform and we are proud to be involved.”
About Officeworks
Established 25 years ago in Richmond, Victoria, Officeworks is committed to making bigger things happen for its customers, team, the community and stakeholders. It operates 167 stores across Australia, a website that is home to more than 40,000 products, a national call centre and a business team that helps micro, small and medium-sized businesses start, run and grow.
