The Tyne and Wear Metro has welcomed LGBT performers onto its network as part of its biggest-ever community arts programme.

‘Story Stations’ were set up on Metro by Curious Arts, which is the leading LGBTQIA+ arts organisation in North East England. These told the stories of customers’ everyday journeys on a giant colourful mural.

The Metro Takeover programme involves major regional arts organisations running community projects and commissions, and which are being showcased at stations across the Metro network.

In this latest event, two friendly performers, story catchers, illustration artists, and story shapers greeted families travelling from Central and Monument Metro stations in Newcastle.

As the families told their stories, the illustrators mapped them out on a large paper canvas. Over the two days, that became a huge Metro map of families’ stories interwoven with their adventures.

While the families were enjoying their time at the Story Station, the illustrators, with the families’ consent, sketched their portraits, which were offered to them as a memory of their Metro journey that day.

From last August until this spring, Metro has been brought to life in new ways through dance, song, music, and visual arts. The projects involved people right across the region and were funded by Arts Council England.

Customer Services Director at Nexus, Huw Lewis, said: “We had an amazing weekend working with Curious Arts and their LGBTQIA+ performers on Metro, and our customers really enjoyed it too.

“The artists engaged brilliantly with families to tell the story of everyday journeys and days out on Metro. The illustrators were able to bring this to life on two really colourful and eye-catching murals.

“This event celebrated diversity and inclusivity in the communities that Metro serves, and it provided some really fun interactions for people of all ages.

“Metro has been turned into a platform for community arts and live performances by creative people from across North East England over the coming year as part of the Metro Takeover, our biggest ever community arts programme.

“Creative arts and the barriers it breaks down are a great way to help people reconnect with Metro in their everyday lives now that we have emerged from lockdown.”