Mini-Case Study: Belleville Transit “Art on the Move”
Turning Buses into Community Storyboards
Introduction
In 2025, Belleville Transit launched Art on the Move, a low-cost, youth-led art initiative that transformed the interiors of city buses into moving galleries of student artwork. What began as a simple idea to bring colour into unused interior advertising space evolved into a shared moment of community pride and vibrancy.
For the pilot, Belleville Transit partnered with a Grade 5 class at Prince Charles School, inviting students to illustrate where the bus takes them in their community. The artwork was professionally reproduced and installed inside a regular service bus which was driven to the school for a celebratory reveal.
How It Started
When Belleville Transit staff noticed that interior advertising space on their buses was largely unused, they invited community youth to take over the space in one of the buses. Equipped with art supplies of their choice and boundless creativity, the kids answered one simple question: “Where does the bus take you?”
How It Works
Working with Prince Charles School, Belleville Transit invited a Grade 5 class to create original drawings that were then were professionally scanned and printed on durable polystyrene panels, sized to fit directly into existing bus interior frames.
Belleville Transit then brought the bus, fully wrapped inside with student artwork, to the school where everyone from the mayor and members of Council to parents, teachers and administrators stepped onboard. For many adults in attendance, it was their first time on a city bus in years.
Photos supplied by: Belleville Transit
Inside the vehicle, simple signage explains what riders are seeing: local student artwork, created for the community. Riders have commented on the colour and warmth the artwork brings to their commute, even weeks after the installation. The story has been shared extensively on social media, with grandparents and neighbours recognizing familiar names and drawings.
“We kind of just wanted to get across the point that public transit just isn’t about moving people. Kind of a canvas for community storytelling as well.”
Why The Model Works
Art on the Move shows how transit agencies can humanize the rider experience, support youth voices, and build long-term community connection, all with an intentionally simple and low-cost project. To facilitate this initiative, Belleville Transit:
Leveraged existing infrastructure (interior ad panels, regular routes)
Created clear, flexible art guidelines that allowed for teachers to interpret the project in ways that made sense for their students
Built-in a community celebration
Fostered community buy-in through social and traditional media, as well as word-of-mouth
Photos supplied by: Belleville Transit
“By adding these vibrant original artworks to buses, we aim to make every ride a little bit brighter.”
What’s The Impact?
Photo supplied by: Belleville Transit
Students experienced a connection to transit as they saw their art move through the city
Parents and caregivers boarded transit — often for the first time in years
Riders reported the artwork “brightened their day”
Drivers and staff received ongoing positive feedback from the public
Transit was reframed as part of community life, not just infrastructure
Some key takeaways from the pilot include:
Invite parents early — their presence deepens impact
Offer multiple theme options to support diverse classrooms
Keep timelines flexible and teacher-led
Add simple explanatory signage onboard to further engage the community
For more information about Art on the Move, check out this piece by the Belleville Intelligencer.
This mini-case study was developed from an interview with Angela Bell, Belleville Transit.
