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Play me, I'm yoursStreet pianos are appearing in cities across the world. Located in skate parks, industrial estates, laundrettes, precincts, bus shelters and train stations, outside pubs and football grounds, the pianos are for any member of the public to enjoy and claim ownership of. Who plays them and how long they remain is up to each community. The pianos act as sculptural, musical, blank canvas's that become a reflection of the communities they are embedded into. Many pianos are personalised and decorated. Questioning the ownership and rules of public space 'Play Me I'm yours' is a provocation, inviting the public to engage with, activate and take ownership of their urban environment. In March 2008, 15 pianos were placed into the streets of Birmingham UK. This website www.streetpianos.com was made for the public to post their comments about the pianos, describe their use. The site has helped document each piano’s journey whilst connecting the street pianos and their communities across the city. |
Pianos across Sao Paulo.In October 2008, 8 pianos were installed on the streets of Sao Paulo. www.pianosderua.com.br documents the publics response with their films, photos and comments. Watch the Brazilian national news that covered the story - twice! In many of the communities the pianos have acted as a real point of connection. Neighbours have talked to one another for the first time, musicians have come out of the woodwork and played in public for their friends and strangers. The project has also given access to pianos for the many trained pianists out there who don't have access to instruments. From a stranger in Brazil read this moving account of the publics interaction with a piano. hello_luke Sydney Festival 2009'Play Me, I'm Yours' will be presented at the Sydney Festival 2009 where 30 street pianos will be distributed across the city. Jerram is seeking a publisher to create a photographic book about the project. |
 
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A new Charitable FundJerram has set up a special streetpianos fund enabling 'Play Me, I'm Yours' to be installed in less wealthy cities across the world. The Sao Paulo Festival Mostra SESC des Artes are the first to take advantage of this fund. After spending 3 weeks on the street the pianos are being donated to community groups across the city. |
Media CoverageListen to this really nice radio programme on National Public Radio - US. Read this great story in the Guardian by Maev Kennedy. Watch the Brazilian national news Watch Sky News report Play Me, I'm Yours was first commissioned by Fierce Earth in Birmingham. Audience FiguresAudience figures for the artwork in Birmingham reached 140,000 people over 3 weeks. See press_coverage_and_audience_figures doc.
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