Street Pianos Project: Bringing out the public spirit in Westminster

23rd June - 14th July 2009

The streets of Westminster came alive with the sounds of Chopin - or possibly Chopsticks - this mid-summer as six pianos are delivered to the city for people to use and enjoy. The project is run by Sing London and facilitated in Westminster by the council's Arts Service. In total 30 pianos were delivered across London. 

 Bringing art into neighbourhoods

Church Street Market and Maida Hill Market 

Two of the seven street pianos were placed in the LARP areas – Church Street and Maida Hill, Harrow Road (previously Prince of Wales Junction).  The launch of the piano fits in well with the regeneration of Prince of Wales Junction and the opening of its new Maida Hill market.  Since the start of the project, the pianos have been warmly welcomed by local residents, therefore Harrow Road Neighbourhood Partnership has decided to embed the street piano as part of its market arts programme. 

Increasing participation in arts and culture

Round-the-Piano singalong event

Pianos are available for impromptu performances and a programme of free Round-the-Piano singalong events in public squares, local markets, parks and shopping malls. More than 300 events

have been booked by members of the public onto www.streetpianos.co.uk. A police choir, a collection of ladies-who-lunch, several schools and an MP are among those who have registered an interest.

Regenerating streets hit by recession: Empty shops to Piano Galleries

Broadwick Street, Church Street, Maida HIll 

To promote Street Pianos, the council waived fees for 5 artists to decorate the pianos, exhibit and sell art in 3 empty council owned shops in Westminster.  The shops have been transformed from a former hair salon in Church Street, Lisson Grove; a neglected Thai restaurant on Fernhead Road, North Paddington, and a disused ceramics shop on Broadwick Street, Soho.  Each of these spaces were made alive with increased footfall around the area, benefits for other local businesses and the works stimulated people's interest in music and visual art. The pianos will be donated to residents or Westminster-based charities after the project. 

Pianos are given a good home

At the end of the event, the pianos were donated to residents or Westminster-based charities.

For more information visit www.streetpianos.co.uk or call 020 7641 2498.