Bedford project delivers cartoon fantasy election pledges
Cartoons depicting community groups' fantasy election pledges have appeared on billboards across Bedford.
The Bedford Creative Arts (BCA) project used artists, a political cartoonist and an advertising agency to help the organisations deliver their messages.
Slogans include "Britain's Forgotten Army" from Carers in Bedfordshire and "I'm a mother not an extremist" from the The Multi-Heritage Organisation.
The BCA said it would "give a voice" to those who "may not always be heard".
Royal College of Art graduates Dash MacDonald and Demetrios Kargotis researched political posters and satirical cartoons to help eight groups develop their ideal messages for the Bedford Voices project ahead of May's General Election.
Advertising agency McGarryBowen provided expertise on writing slogans while cartoonist Patrick Blower turned them into "something that really works on a billboard".
Kevin Chesters from McGarryBowen, said: "Right now, all the [political] campaigns seem to be focused on what politicians want to say rather than what people want to hear.
"This was helping turn the wishes of people in a town like Bedford, essentially the UK Election in microcosm, into simple, powerful messages.
"The people have spoken so let's hope the candidates are listening. For their sake."
BCA Chief Executive Dawn Giles said: "This commission has given the opportunity to explore, discuss and co-produce people's policies as an artwork.... posing powerful questions and thought-provoking messages that should get people talking and engaging."
Patrick Blower called the project an "exciting challenge" at a time when "the power of political cartoons is highly topical following the Charlie Hebdo affair".
Bedford Voices runs until 12 April.