Put your art into your piano for Rotherham's gallery town

WANNABE Rotherham artists are being urged to follow the footsteps of Kasabian rock star Ben Kealey and decorate a piano!

Ben, the band’s keyboard player, specialises in urban art and one of decorated pianos, Sapheye Rae, is a key part of the Gallery Town project in the town centre.

It has pride of placen the council’s new library at Riverside House and the Gallery Town team is looking for more pianos to add to the collection.

The team is also appealing for unwanted pianos and also for groups and individuals of all ages who would like to take part in “customising” them.

Funding has been secured from Arts Council England for workshops where people can work with an artist to turn each piano into a work of art.

There will also be music workshops to create a short tune that can be played on the pianos at the launch event in the town centre later this year.

Rotherham charity Get Sorted Academy of Music will also be offering tuition for anyone who wants to play the tune at the event.

Completed pianos will then be exhibited across the town centre and brought out for events.

Julie Hird, manager for integrated cultural services at Rotherham Borough Council, said: “Ben’s urban piano is a wonderful addition to the new library, heritage and arts space.

“Despite what people think, we are keen for people to get together and make some noise in our libraries.

“We also have a beautifully restored Steinway that we are going to make the most of.”

Town centre locations for other completed pianos are also being sought, with council officials keen to hear from retailers looking to take advantage of this unique art project as a way to boost trade.

The council’s arts and regeneration officer, Lizzy Alageswaran, said: “This project shows that Rotherham people have not lost their sense of fun—it’s a wonderful idea to make unwanted instruments into works of art and it will create a fun and unusual event that will being more people into the town centre.”

If you or your group would like to take part in the project, or have a piano to donate, contact Lizzy on 01709 823636 or email [email protected]

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