12th May 2017
Artists and pianos wanted for this summer’s Bristol piano trail Play
Me I’m Yours

Expressions of interest sought from artists wanting to decorate and transform a
piano

Public asked to donate pianos for the trail and as a legacy for the project
Images depict pianos being decorated (Paris) and transported (Aberdeen) for Play Me, I’m Yours projects –
(please credit Luke Jerram). Please click here for high res versions and here for film clips.
The team behind Luke Jerram’s world-famous street piano project Play Me I’m Yours is calling on the
public and local artists to get involved with the project, by donating and decorating pianos.
Up to 20 pianos in good working order are going to be needed for the trail, which will hit the streets
of the city this summer from mid-August.
Musically-minded people who have a piano which is no longer wanted but is still in playable
condition are being asked to come forward to donate them to the community arts project.
The pianos will be transformed by artists for the trail, which lasts for three weeks (17th August – 7th
September) and afterwards, many will be either donated to community organisations, or retained
and made available for the public to play, as a legacy for the project.
Several pianos have already been donated but more are needed and anyone who is interested in
contributing need to come forward before the end of May.
The Play Me I’m Yours team are also looking to commission a number of Bristol artists to transform
these pianos into works of art and are asking anyone inspired by the idea to submit their interest as
soon as possible. Artists will receive a fee of £500 (including materials) and need to lodge their
expression of interest by Monday 22nd May. Full details are outlined on the Bristol Creatives website.
Sally Reay, project manager explains: “The project is really beginning to gather momentum which is
great to see and we’re now on the hunt for artists and pianos for the trail.
“Bristol has a fantastic creative scene and we’re keen to work with local artists who are really
inspired to use a piano as a blank canvas and help fill the streets of the city with colour, as well as
music.
“We’re also keen to find some really good pianos for this trail as many of the sponsors who have
kindly come forward to help fund this project are going to be donating their piano to a community
project after the trail closes, or retaining their piano and making it available for the public to play in
future, as a legacy for the project.
“There are lots of people who have a piano at home that gets very little use and we’re hoping they
will be prepared to donate them to this project.”
The 2017 Bristol musical arts trail will include 15-20 individually-decorated pianos installed in public
spaces across a city, for everyone to play and enjoy. It is being organised to mark the 10th year of the
project which has seen over 1700 pianos in over 50 cities across the globe reaching over 10 million
people, bearing the simple instruction Play Me I’m Yours.
A crowdfunder has been set up to raise further funds to expand the project into wider districts of
the city. It needs to reach £40K by 24th May to release £30K already pledged by Arts Council England
and private donors, and people are being urged to help organisers reach the target.
“With the very generous support of sponsors around the city, we have enough funds for 15 pianos at
the moment,” explains Bristol-based artist Luke Jerram, “but our aim is to expand the trail to enable
us to put pianos in wider districts across the city so more people and communities can benefit from
the project this summer.”
Anyone wanting to donate to the project can do so via the link www.crowdfunder.co.uk/bristolstreet-pianos.
Any organisation interested in donating a piano or transforming it into an artwork and helping to fill
Bristol’s streets with music and art this summer should contact Sally Reay at
[email protected].
-EndsImages of Play Me I’m Yours touring the world, including Bristol in 2009, can be downloaded here,
while high res video clips can be downloaded here.
For further information or to set up interviews, please contact Suzan Uzel or Caroline Harris at
Spirit Public Relations on 0117 944 1415 or email [email protected].
About Luke Jerram
Luke Jerram's multidisciplinary practice involves the creation of sculptures, installations and live arts
projects. Living in Bristol, UK but working internationally, Jerram has created a number of
extraordinary art projects over the last 20 years which have excited and inspired people around the
globe.
His well-known artworks include: Play Me, I’m Yours, the globally successful street pianos
installation; his giant Park and Slide; the critically-acclaimed Sky Orchestra; his Glass Microbiology
sculptures; and most recently Museum of the Moon. Visit www.lukejerram.com