Play Me, I'm Yours
An artwork that has proved a huge success in New York, Barcelona and London is now striking the right chord with people in the North West.
Twenty-four pianos appeared in public areas in Blackburn, Darwen and Burnley on July 8 for Play Me, I’m Yours.
The pianos are free to use by people of all ages who want to express themselves musically.
An artwork that has proved a huge success in New York, Barcelona and London is now striking the right chord with people in the North West.
Twenty-four pianos appeared in public areas in Blackburn, Darwen and Burnley on July 8 for Play Me, I’m Yours.
The pianos are free to use by people of all ages who want to express themselves musically.
Play Me, I’m Yours is taking place in the North West as part of Creativity Works’ Liberating Empty Terrain (LET) programme, which is supported by National Lottery funding through a Grants from the arts award from Arts Council England.
The work, by British artist Luke Jerram, has toured the world since it was created in 2008.
For its North West debut, the pianos have been placed in a diverse range of locations including Burnley Bus Station and Central Library, the Singing Ringing Tree at Crown Point, Blackburn Market, Sunnyhurst Woods Visitor Centre and Darwen Leisure Centre.
Play Me, I’m Yours is on until 29 July, after which time the pianos will be donated to local schools and community groups.
Artist Luke Jerram said: ‘Play Me, I’m Yours provides a blank canvas for the public to express themselves and share their creativity. I really hope the communities enjoy the possibility of playing pianos outside. The pianos are also there to act as a catalyst for conversation, to get strangers talking and connecting with one another.’
Derek Johnson, who plans to visit all the pianos, said: ‘I started playing the piano when was I was 13, after listening to early records by Russ Conway and Fats Waller. I don’t know how to read music, so I’ve developed my own style, which is quite ‘swingy’. I’ll be really nervous on the day, playing in front of people in the town centre, but I’d love to travel around and play music forever. That’s why I think street pianos are a brilliant idea; we should have them in Burnley permanently!’
Neil Harris, Relationship Manager for Visual Arts (Public Realm) at the Arts Council, added: ‘It’s fantastic that the latest venue for Play Me, I’m Yours global tour is the North West. One of the joys of this project is that it’s there for whoever wants to take part, from virtuoso to musical novice and everyone in between, to express themselves however they choose and take part in the arts in places where they – very probably – never expected to do so. The Arts Council is delighted to be able to support this work, which I think people in the region will be talking about for a long time after the last note sounds.’
Creativity Works’ purpose is to raise the profile of, and engagement with, the arts in Pennine Lancashire.
LET aims to use a mix of town centre spaces to showcase the work of creative industries across the Pennine Lancashire region, bringing artists’ work directly to the public to enjoy, in places they may not usually expect to see such activity.
Play Me, I’m Yours has been brought to the region by Burnley Borough Council and Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, in association with BBC Radio Lancashire.
For more information on Play Me I’m Yours visit: www.streetpianos.com/bb2010/
For more information on LET and Creativity Works visit: www.creativityworks.info/let