Wow.
We won!!
Mostly we had put the project out of our minds whilst the judging panel made it’s decision. This was mainly so that we didn’t go completely bonkers with anticipation. But here we are: we are actually going to make Bus-Tops a reality!
The other finalists in the London arc of the Artists Taking The Lead project were all inspiring, and we wish them the best of luck in making their ideas a reality. That’s one of the best things about how the project was run in our opinion: by giving the finalists a small budget and time to develop the ideas we all ended up with projects that are near ‘Go’ status, so I really hope we get to see some of the other ideas made real too.
We want to say a big thank you to the ‘Art Public’ – everyone who has engaged with our idea and added their voice and ideas both here on the site and elsewhere on the web. From the very outset we have been pretty clear (we hope) in demonstrating that the Bus-Tops project is not about *us* it is about (and for) *you*.
Over the next few months we will be doing all the contractual stuff with the Arts Council and beginning early next year (if not sooner) we will be starting both prototyping and the public consultation which will help us define exactly what form(s) the project will eventually take.
For us, this project means many things: It means connecting Londoners to Londoners through a shared space for art. It means connecting London to the rest of the world through this shared creative space. A playground for creativity is going to spring into place across London’s Bus Shelter roof’s, giving artists, designers, developers, game creators and creatives of all shapes and sizes a space to express themselves. We are drop-dead-excited. This post is just a short one to say hello, we will be following up very soon with something a bit more in depth.
Everything that we created during the proposal phase of the project is here on the site so please do feel free to take a look around and have a think about what the project entails, adding your comments where you would like.
London from Arts Council England on Vimeo.

Playful » Blog Archive » Dashingly Hot Off The Press
10 months ago
[...] year’s line-up – Alfie Dennen and Paula Le Dieu. Their project Bus Tops has just been chosen as the winning entrant in the London arc of the Artists Taking The Lead fund (an Arts Council and London Olympics public [...]
Alfie Dennen
10 months ago
Thanks Guys!! Obviously excitement doesn't quite cover it, but wow!!! Shirin, really miss talking with you, really looking forward to seeing you soon. Mei! Let's play games!!
Alfie Dennen
10 months ago
Alison you know it!! I'm a Dalston kid so we're going to reprazent!
Alfie Dennen
10 months ago
I Know right?
I almost sound angry with my passion!
Arun Joy
10 months ago
great innovation… truly inspiring….
Three cheers for Bus.tops! | Digital Signage Articles
10 months ago
[...] about impact! In case you missed it; last week there was an announcement about Bus.tops (see bus-tops.com). They invented THE most creative use of screens, to reduce dwell time amongst things I presume, on [...]
Article Dan
10 months ago
Wow. Must have missed the announcement that you got it. Congratulations! Awesome!
Big love for the Bus Tops crew. Will stay more alert to the next phase!
Y’a pas que le web [#19] : Guinness Halloween, SMH resize, London Bus tops | Web News - Web Marketing
10 months ago
[...] Bus Tops : Affichage SUR les abri-bus Dans le cadre des JO de Londres en 2012, « The Arts Councils of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales » a organisé un concours à destination d’artistes urbains. Le projet « Bus Tops » a remporté ce concours, particulièrement adapté à la ville de Londres, visant à installer des écrans digitaux sur environ 40 abri-bus de la ville. Ces écrans serviront à diffuser des messages envoyés par mobile, des films courts… ce concours ne concernait que le supports, les contenus restent à mettre en place. Un projet intéressant qui ne fonctionnerait certainement pas à Paris, par manque de bus à double niveau… Via Bus Tops [...]
antoinegrillon
10 months ago
Congratulations from Barcelona! I was considering to go to London for the JO, not for the games but in order to discover what London really add to offer. Seeing the idea you came up with and efforts the city is making in order to make those JO, the ones of urban, street, design… culture, I think it s definitely worth going!!!
Best wishes, good luck and again congratulations for coming up with this idea!! How are you going to select the projects? Through Internet I hope! And I guess Londoners?! You can make this real real great and interactive!!
Three cheers for Bus.tops! | The Digital Signage Expert
9 months ago
[...] about impact! In case you missed it; last week there was an announcement about Bus.tops (see bus-tops.com). They invented THE most creative use of screens, to reduce dwell time amongst things I presume, on [...]