The Clitheroe Line – A Picturesque Railway Journey brings Communities Together Through Art and Rail Travel
On Saturday 15 March 2025 a unique art exhibition was opened at Blackburn Market Place showcasing photographs, poetry and drawings created through an Arts 2 Heal community-led project. The initiative has aimed to promote local rail travel alongside developing the confidence, creativity, and connections among participants and to encourage visitors from outside the area to discover the charm and heritage the region has to offer too.
The ‘A Picturesque Journey’ exhibition in Blackburn Market – photo © Caroline Holden
Over several months, members have embarked on a photographic journey to each of the ten stations along the line. They have captured images that reflect the character of the areas and prominent landmarks around the stations as proud residents of the area.
Banu Adam, the project facilitator and Arts 2 Heal manager explained “This project was so much more than just a creative project; it has brought people together (over 50 people), building confidence in rail travel, and rediscovering the beauty of our local area. Many of our members faced barriers to independent travel, and this experience has helped them feel more connected to their community and facilitated opportunities for social interaction, enabling people from diverse backgrounds to share experiences and form new friendships.”
Mike Cliffe (left) addresses the crowd at the launch event – photo © Caroline Holden
Mike Cliffe, Chair of the Clitheroe Community Rail Partnership said “The artwork showcased at Blackburn Market is the product of a mix of people coming together to visit and tell the story of our towns and villages in their own unique way. Arts 2 Heal and Banu Adam have delivered a real community project to help tackle loneliness and make connections, highlighting destinations accessible by rail through photographs, frame design, drawings and poems.”
The work will also be recreated on posters to be shown at railway stations along the picturesque Clitheroe to Bolton line and don’t forget to view the on-line gallery using the QR code below:
The exhibition runs from Saturday 15 March 2025 to Tuesday 1 April 2025, so please stop by and take a look.
The project has been funded by Community Rail Lancashire, the Community Rail Network’s Community Rail Development Fund and Northern Railway’s Seedcorn Fund.
