Apply now to exhibit in our Routes and Branches Exhibition - celebrating 200 years of life on the railways

Apply now for our final themed and curated exhibition of 2025, Routes and Branches, taking place in our Artisan Gallery, Friday 6th - Tuesday 17th June 2025.  

On 27 September 1825 a small steam locomotive named Locomotion No.1 coupled up to a passenger train at Shildon in County Durham. There were officially 300 ticket holders, but many more jumped aboard for the momentous journey. As the train made its way eastward toward the port of Stockton, crowds of spectators gathered along the route, eager to witness this historic event of the first steam-powered passenger train on a public railway. Few of them could have imagined how far-reaching this 26-mile journey would be, with this revolution of transportation having a such an impact on the world for the next 200 years and beyond. 

We welcome applications from artists who have a body of work that connects with this theme, in any medium. 

The Artisan Gallery will be divided into seven ‘mini galleries’, plus two cabinets, for up to nine artists to be part of the exhibition.  The exhibitors themselves determine the number of pieces they exhibit within their hired section. 

With hire fees at just £50 - £75, this is an excellent opportunity for artists to showcase a compact body of their work without taking on the commitment of organising a solo exhibition, while still creating a larger impact alongside the other participating creatives.

If you would like to apply please CLICK HERE to read the information and terms document, then CLICK HERE to complete the short online form. Applications close at midnight on Sunday 20th April 2025.

Please note - applications will not be accepted for work that can't be shown to be appropriate to the theme - it is up to you to use the section on the form to explain how your 'mini exhibition' will fit in.  It doesn't have to be totally overt  - it can be more abstract and subtle - but there must be a tangible connection.  The most obvious imagery to work with is of course the trains and railways themselves, but within that there are still nuances to be explored -  the wider Industrial Revolution, the progression of technology, speed, innovation, the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy as seen in the evolution of trains, the architecture of railway stations, the romance and elegance of rail travel during the 'Golden Age of Railways', the contrast between the tranquillity of sleepy rural stations and crowded urban terminals, the iconic railway routes such as the Trans-Siberian Railway or the Orient Express.  

Branching out a little from this more overt theme, consider the varied landscapes and sights seen through the eyes of passengers, the nature that railways cut through from mountains to forests and bridges over rivers, the class divides of the compartments, the lives of people who worked on or around the railways (engineers, labourers, station staff, conductors), the communities that grew up around the railway industry and the impact of the Beeching cuts - you don't have to look far in this part of the world to see examples of these!  

Considering the deeper connections, railways forged new links among individuals from various cultural backgrounds, driving social change through widespread access to public transport and improved goods transportation. They evoke powerful emotions, from seeing soldiers off to war to beloved reunions, and have influenced popular culture across mediums.  Beyond facilitating simple pleasures like seaside excursions for urban families, railways have also played a pivotal role in the creation of time zones, fundamentally changing how we perceive time.
 

If you have any questions about the exhibition please contact our Gallery Manager Sarah by email - gallery@thestation.co.uk