Cultural Olympiad project Bus-Tops and Goldsmiths, University of London has today announced a new collaboration to deliver prototypes of Bus-Tops installations which will be placed across London in 2012.

Bus-Tops is an innovative digital commission for the capital in 2012, one of 12 Artists taking the lead commissions forming part of the Cultural Olympiad, funded by Arts Council England.

Bus-Tops are screen based sculptural installations to be installed on the roofs of bus shelters across London, providing a participative and democratised digital platform for artists to show their work across the capital, through submissions via a website. Currently in prototyping and development, the installations will be in place from July 2011 until the end of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012. A website has also been launched so people can discuss which bus stops they would like to see be part of the project.

Art Public, the Bus-Tops delivery team, is delighted to welcome Goldsmith students Matt West and Sophie Scott to the team to help deliver the first prototypes for the project.

Working with the Goldsmiths Design Department and utilising Goldsmiths resources, the Bus-Tops team will develop the first installation prototypes in later this year. Working on such a high profile and innovative project, the project offers a high value experience for the students which will be valuable experience for their future careers.

Matt Ward, Programme Leader of the BA Design at Goldsmiths commented: “The Bus-Tops project utilizes a lost piece of London real estate to reveal and connect people within the city. Having our students and graduates involved in the project is fantastic. Our programme promotes a thoughtful and critical approach to design, which should sit well next to a project that intends to create new and exciting experiences throughout London during the 2012 Olympics.”

Alfie Dennen, Director of Art Public commented: ’The Bus-Tops project is all about London and Londoners. Working with talented students and Goldsmiths is another aspect of the project’s commitment to involving Londoners and develops the incredible design talent in the capital. This is just the beginning and we hope thousands of people all over London engage with the project when it goes ‘live’ in the run up to the Olympics.’

The London 2012 Cultural Olympiad is the largest cultural celebration in the history of the modern Olympic and Paralympic Movements. Spread over four years, it is designed to give everyone in the UK a chance to be part of London 2012 and inspire creativity across all forms of culture, especially among young people.

Moira Sinclair, London Executive Director of Arts Council England commented:
“We always knew the London 2012 Games were going to offer an array of opportunities for artists and Londoners alike, so it’s great to see these two teams coming together to develop prototypes for Bus-Tops. With over six million people using London buses every week, these bus shelters will form an iconic part of the capital’s landscape in the year of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and offer an unprecedented boost to the CVs of the designers involved; I can’t wait to see what they come up with.”