Ayrshire College student designs logo for new Alloway Tunnel
Milo Bell, an Ayrshire College art and design student has won a design competition to create a logo for a new attraction in Ayrshire, the Alloway Tunnel.
The future trustees of the Alloway Railway Tunnel ART SCIO are in the process of forming a charitable trust. The first project will be the creation of a stunning art installation within the old railway tunnel at the Brig o’ Doon, through which the Alloway to Greenan active-travel path passes.
Trustee Bill McKinlay explains more, “We have formed a collaborative partnership with Ayrshire College, and students and staff will be involved in all aspects of the project, from pre-works through to storyboard development, community engagement, promotion, project planning and the practical stages of mural painting.
This engagement provides a real-world learning opportunity for Ayrshire College students, enabling them to apply their new skills. At this early stage in the project, we needed a logo designed for the tunnel to give it a clear identity, and so we launched a design competition. The essence of the tunnel project is to create a magical tunnel that Ayrshire residents and visitors will want to visit again and again.
Supported by lead muralist Chris Rutterford, Milo Bell’s winning logo has captured our vision beautifully. We are delighted to present Milo with a £100 Amazon voucher and an opportunity for further work experience with Chris.”
Milo says, “My focus for the logo design was to create something that was bright and uplifting, to evoke the feeling you will get as you walk through the tunnel. I also added a little nod to the history of the tunnel, by incorporating the railway tracks. The project has been a great real-world experience for producing art and I’m looking forward to seeing the tunnel come together. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Chris’s work and I know it’s definitely in safe hands!”
Thanks to start-up grant-aid from Sustrans Artroots and Ayrshire College Foundation Collaborating Communities Fund, the Trust will oversee this community project, which will provide a superb experience for not just college students but school-children who want to help create an art installation worthy of this iconic location. The trustees are looking for notes of interest from teachers who would like their pupils to have an opportunity to work with the muralist on this art installation. Teachers should send an email to info@allowaytunnel.org.uk and they will be happy to respond directly to any enquiries.
Ayrshire College Foundation Chair, Tracey Stark says, “This outstanding project offers Ayrshire College students an amazing opportunity to make connections and gain work experience in our community. It is also a meaningful and memorable way to help them start their careers.
We created the Collaborating Communities Fund to support and enable the launch of local Ayrshire projects and to make a difference through collaboration, The Alloway Railway Tunnel is an excellent example of what we set out to achieve and we can't wait to see the end result.”
The trustees believe the installation will become a key attraction, and by bringing people to view the artwork, will introduce them to the path, significantly increasing its usage and encouraging repeat visits for those discovering this active travel route.
29 June 2022
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