New Orleans RTA announces public arts partnership
The New Orleans Regional Transit (RTA) has entered a public arts partnership with Ashe’ Cultural Arts Center and Studio Be.
Through the partnership, the RTA and its partners collaborated on a public art bus which was unveiled Nov. 11 at the agency's Canal Street headquarters. The 40-foot fully wrapped bus features art designed by Studio Be's Brandon "B. Mike" Odum, who says his inspiration was a young, local aspiring artist, Dontay Allen. The art bus was financed through a private donation to the Ashe' Cultural Arts Center.
"By investing community in art partnerships that leverage the flourishing local arts community, the RTA is positioned to bring public art that projects positive imagery, directly to our riders in a manner that is accessible to all", said Flozell Daniels, Jr., chair, RTA Board of Commissioners. "Representation matters and the RTA Board is proud to lead this innovative partnership that allows local youth to see themselves through this exceptional piece of public transit art. We are grateful to local artists for bringing to life our shared aspirations of mobility, opportunity, joy and freedom. Hopefully, there are many other possibilities for further collaboration."
As the RTA transitions to full local control as the agency brings the operations and maintenance functions in-house, the RTA says it is also taking steps to expand its community partnerships that contribute positively to the fabric of society. The fully wrapped art bus will be assigned to bus routes that serve youth initially and will rotate routes throughout the city for up to one year.
“When RTA speaks of providing safe, reliable and equitable transit services, that meaning is intended for all riders, not just those getting to work but also those also getting to school and back,” said Alex Z. Wiggins, RTA CEO. “In a city like New Orleans where art speaks to the soul of the community, partnerships like these highlight the agency’s renewed commitment to our riders and the communities we serve.”
