Preston’s red phone boxes to become digital art hubs

Preston City Council has commissioned local digital specialist ADI to install LED screens inside nine restored Grade II listed red telephone boxes on Market Street, creating a permanent digital art feature in the city centre.

The scheme focuses on a row of iconic telephone boxes beside the Preston Flag Market. The council has bought and restored the boxes using government funding. It has submitted plans for the installation, with an installation date still to be confirmed.

ADI said the boxes will display curated digital artwork and community-led content. The screens will sit within the existing structures and form part of a public-realm feature in the Harris Quarter area.

Heritage setting

The nine telephone boxes will be fitted with high-resolution LED displays. ADI said the design aims for clear visuals while keeping a low profile in the surrounding streetscape.

The installation also includes discreet audio. Speakers will provide ambient sound alongside the visuals.

ADI is working with Studio John Bridge Architects in Preston on the design. ADI said the viewing experience has been planned for sightlines from across the street.

The council expects to use the installation for digital art, seasonal themes and locally relevant content through the year. The use of listed telephone boxes places the project within an area that mixes heritage buildings and public space.

John Chesworth, Chair of the Towns Fund Board, linked the project to the boxes' recent restoration work.

"The telephone boxes are an iconic piece of Preston's history and have been missed whilst they have been getting their makeover. We're looking forward to our landmark boxes coming back to life on site later in the year for future generations to enjoy," said John Chesworth, Chair, Towns Fund Board.

Cultural programme

Preston City Council has positioned the installation as part of its arts and culture activity in the city centre. Councillor Anna Hindle referenced its potential appeal for visitors in the Harris Quarter.

"The refurbished telephone boxes will create a real digital spectacle that you won't want to miss, aiming to create that new Instagram-able moment in the heart of Preston's historic Harris Quarter," said Councillor Anna Hindle.

ADI said it will use its own MT Series LED product for the installation. The company described it as lightweight and slimline. ADI also highlighted energy efficiency, reliability and sustainability over the product's operational lifespan.

Aaron Jabbary, Client Engagement Executive at ADI, said the screens will carry cultural and event content from across the city.

"We're excited to bring a contemporary digital public art project to Preston's historic Market Street. Using ADI's bespoke LED technology, the installation can showcase local culture, collaborate with artists, and highlight events taking place across the city," said Aaron Jabbary, Client Engagement Executive, ADI.

Track record

ADI said it has 35 years' experience delivering digital installations in UK public spaces. The company cited recent work with Bradford Council on Darley Street Market. It described that project as a bespoke immersive, multi-zone media network.

ADI also pointed to entertainment and commercial installations in Manchester. It said it designed and installed what it describes as the largest LED ceiling in Europe at Printworks, and delivered a large digital out-of-home screen at Spinningfields.

The Preston project adds to a wider trend of digital screens moving into civic spaces, where councils and regeneration bodies often mix cultural programming with placemaking. In this case, the scheme also uses familiar street furniture associated with Britain's public telephone network, though the boxes now mainly serve as heritage objects and tourist markers.

Geraint Williams, Founder and CEO of ADI, said the company sees the project as a locally rooted contribution to the city centre's public realm.

"As a local company, we're proud to be contributing something meaningful to Preston's city centre. This project brings together the character and heritage of Market Street with a new digital public art feature that creates space for local culture, artists and community voices.

"It's about using technology thoughtfully - not just to enhance the space, but to give something back, support creativity and build on the investment, creating a public feature that residents and visitors can enjoy throughout the year," said Williams.

Preston City Council has submitted plans for the scheme and said more details on the installation timetable are yet to be announced.