LONDON, ON – Did you know London, Ontario is Canada’s first UNESCO City of Music? London received its designation in November 2021, acknowledging its leadership in music education, production and engineering. Local artists, festivals and music venues make London a fantastic year-round destination.
London continues to develop world-renowned, award-winning talent including artists, songwriters, producers and engineers through Western University, Fanshawe College and Ontario Institute of Audio Recording Technology. London has proven itself on the Canadian stage, hosting large nationally significant events such as the Canadian Country Music Awards and the JUNOS. London is a leading City of Music with hundreds of thousands attending festivals, large events, concerts and community performances annually.
Placing a music themed mural at London International Airport made perfect sense to welcome all travelers to our City of Music. The artwork makes a colourful, bold statement as travelers arrive off a plane and walk towards it, spanning the wall in the boarding lounge.
The artist, Meaghan Claire Kehoe gave a statement: “It has been my honour to paint this mural inspired by the UNESCO City of Music designation and all the international acclaim and connection that brings. Imagining the entire sensory experience of live music – the sounds, the vibrations, the sights and smells, the connection with the artist and other audience members – was an exciting challenge that sent me down a rabbit-hole of colourful photography. Along the way, I had the bonus of discovering a singer I never knew before (the portrait feature of Shalmali Kholgade, photographed memorably by Tejas Nerurkar), and expanding my musical appreciation and palette in the same way that London aims to do for its concertgoers. I hope the viewer of this piece can almost hear the music as the mural welcomes them to the city.”
Gerry Vanderhoek, Manager of Commercial Services & Passenger Experience said that the London airport is proud to share with their passengers a sense of place by showcasing the features and creative talent of London and surrounding area. “This mural really fits the bill in vaulting London’s position as a music destination for years to come,” said Vanderhoek. “We would like to thank our partners at Tourism London and the London Music Office, as well as the artist Meaghan Kehoe, for helping to make our airport really shine.”
For more details on London’s City of Music, visit www.londoncityofmusic.ca
To learn more about the artist, visit www.meaghanclairekehoe.com
To explore more of what London offers, visit www.londontourism.ca