In October 2006, we won a competitive tender to develop a Public Arts Strategy for the Docklands Light Railway. As part of the process, extensive consultation with key stakeholders was carried out, supported by thorough research into best international practice in Art & Transport programmes. The resulting Strategy, DLR Art, was launched in early Summer 2007 and provides a framework of commissioning opportunities for new and refurbished stations up to 2012 and beyond.
The Strategy was designed around three interconnecting strands of practice: permanent commissions, temporary artworks, and the community based projects relating to these commissioning strands. Around ten projects have already been completed.
'The DLR Public Art Strategy was an essential framework document that guided the process of establishing a Public Art strategy for the DLR, led ably by Modus Operandi, our curators and producers. The process was really collaborative and together we agreed an approach that reflected DLR's expansion programme and also some of our key operational constraints. Given the unique catchment area of the DLR we were keen for the strategy to reflect the dynamism of east London and the changing nature of the surrounding landscape'.
Richard De Cani, Director of Strategy and Policy, TFL.
Please refer to DLR Art Public Art Programme to view the commissions.