Summer fun with a new free smartphone app created especially for MK – Discovering MK

Discovering MK is a new smartphone app launching on 31st July 2017. Celebrating MK’s 50th birthday year, the app encourages residents and visitors to get out and explore Milton Keynes, discovering the places and spaces that make this city unique.

Inspired by the Pokémon Go craze, the Discovering MK app reveals an interactive trail of 50 hidden gems around the city.  At each location along the trail, you can unlock information about the landmark, challenge yourself, your family and friends to a fun mini quiz and upload a ‘selfie’ to show you are there.  With a range of competitions and prize draws through the year, we hope you join in and share your selfies on social media.

Developed by Arts & Heritage Alliance MK (AHA-MK) and MK21, the free app, available via Google Play and Apple Store, commemorates Milton Keynes 50th Anniversary and celebrates this unique and diverse city.

We have been able to produce this app for free due to the support of various funders.  This includes a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Sharing Heritage grant, awarded to AHA-MK.  This exciting project, Discovering MK, created especially for Milton Keynes has been given £9,000 to develop this app with a cohort of volunteers, to showcase the heritage and landmarks of the city.  AHA-MK thanks National Lottery players, who make HLF grants possible.  Milton Keynes Community Foundation, MK Council and Santander Cycles have also supported the project generously.

Francesca Skelton, Chair of AHA-MK said:

We are delighted to launch this exciting new app inviting residents, families and visitors to share our Discovering MK adventure this summer.  The app features both known, and more hidden, modern and historical landmarks that tell the story of contemporary Milton Keynes and its heritage. We hope you all have fun!

Perfect for family days out and summer fun, the app can be completed on a leisurely stroll or a fast pace cycle ride using MK’s extensive network of redways and the Santander Cycles MK scheme.

You may not realise it, but there are so many unexpected surprises in Milton Keynes. To uncover them all, the trail is split into five areas, exploring Milton Keynes’ modern and heritage buildings, rich history, iconic public art and blooming woodlands and parks.

The challenge has been set – can you unlock all 50 landmarks around the city?

You can share your journey on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using #DiscoveringMK.

On the Verge – Underpasses Project unveils new artwork

Unveiling of the ‘New Griffin’ design in the Conniburrow/Downs Barn underpass with “Act of Gold”; a community performance celebrating Milton Keynes’ urban heritage as part of Milton Keynes 50th Anniversary.

As part of the “Underpasses: connecting people connecting places” project, On The Verge unveiled the first of two new underpass artworks and hosted a community performance by 100+ residents and children on Friday 10th February at the Conniburrow/Downs Barn underpass off Conniburrow Boulevard, under Marlborough Street. The performance lasted approximately 15 minutes, followed by refreshments and celebratory activities in the Southwood School Assembly Hall.

The New Griffin artwork design, is inspired by conversations with the community and the accompanying performance featured the children of Southwood and Germander Park schools and the Conniburrow Community Choir.

This celebration featured a brief outdoor performance and the unveiling of two interpretation panels within the underpass itself. Afterward there was an opportunity to view OTV’s two children publications: ‘Travelling in Time’ and ‘MY MK’ .

On The Verge are working in close partnership with local residents, artists and project partners: MK Council, The Parks Trust and the MK City Discovery Centre, to enhance two underpasses that link the original CMK estates, with an aim to collectively create a more positive identity and instil greater pride and ownership.  The Heritage Lottery Funded project has commissioned the artists’ collective RARA to work with local residents on the transformation of the Conniburrow/Downs Barn underpass, and later this month, the Fishermead/Oldbrook underpass.

On the Verge is delivering the year long ‘Underpasses: connecting people, connecting places’ project since 2016. The ‘Underpasses’ project aims to connect residents with the unique heritage of the ‘New Town’ of Milton Keynes, tying into MK50 anniversary celebrations in 2017.

Project outputs include:

  • Community engagement programme lead by RARA an artist cooperative.
  • Heritage inspired artwork and interpretation panels for two underpasses in four estates around Central Milton Keynes
  • Interpretation panels for Secklow Mound and for Boyd & Evans painting ‘Underpass’ at the CMK/Campbell park underpass
  • Two children’s publications on MK’s ‘New Town’ history: ‘Travelling in Time’ and ‘MY MK’ 
  • ‘Underpasses’ an exhibition tracing the development of Milton Keynes at the Discover Milton Keynes at CMK Library
  • A heritage trail leaflet: ‘The Story of Housing in Milton Keynes’  (in four estates around CMK) and a version of it for children.
  • An App connected to the MY MK publication.