Creative Connections at Mills Hill Station
This creative collaboration between Hopwood Hall College and the Calder Valley Line Community Rail Partnership set out to transform Mills Hill Station into a more vibrant, engaging, and welcoming environment for passengers, while providing students with a platform to showcase their artistic talents.
The project aimed to:
-Support young people’s creative development.
-Encourage pride in the local area.
-Foster positive connections between education, the community, and the rail network.
-Use public space to inspire, uplift, and engage travellers through visual storytelling.
-By turning the station into an outdoor gallery, the partnership hoped to strengthen the link between the station and the communities it serves.
What Happened
Art students from Hopwood Hall College were invited to take part in a community arts initiative focused on the theme of place, identity, and travel. Over several months, they worked on sculptures, paintings, and metalwork pieces that reflected the local area’s industrial heritage, natural landscape, and diversity. Students were mentored by their tutors and supported by members of the Community Rail Partnership to explore ideas that could connect emotionally with station users. Artwork was created using a variety of mediums, including recycled materials and sustainable techniques. The station was carefully prepared, and a dedicated unveiling event brought together
students, teachers, community representatives, and rail partners.
Results
The impact of the project has been highly positive across several levels. For students, the project provided hands-on experience of working to a brief, managing a real-world exhibition, and contributing to civic life. Many reported
increased confidences, pride, and a sense of achievement.
For passengers, the new artworks transformed an ordinary journey into a richer experience. Feedback gathered through informal conversations and social media responses showed that people appreciated the colour, creativity, and local storytelling brought into the station. For the community, it demonstrated how collaborative projects can bring generations together and celebrate local talent in visible, meaningful ways. For Hopwood Hall College, the project highlighted the value of practical learning and engagement with community rail as an educational opportunity. For the rail industry, it showcased how even smaller stations can become places of cultural value and artistic expression.
The partnership continues to explore future collaborations with other educational institutions and is working on ways to expand the creative station concept further along the Calder Valley Line.
