NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, UK. 16th October, 2024 - Six artists in Newcastle upon Tyne have transformed a 500 year old lane into a vibrant urban art gallery as part of a project to put creativity and culture at the heart of the city centre.
The brand new urban art gallery, led by Creative Central NCL, is located on Forth Lane, and has the theme Pleasure Garden.
In partnership with Newcastle Arts Centre, Project North East and NE1, Creative Central NCL selected six artists who have all created artworks for the Forth Lane Urban Gallery:
- Chris Fleming, a stencil artist, creates two large-scale portraits of Newcastle residents with bright, vibrant headpieces inspired by nature, flora and fauna.
- Glenn Malpass, a street artist specialising in graffiti commissions, creates large-scale mural spreading out along Forth Lane inspired by the Lane’s historic approach to the original Forth Pleasure Garden. Art direction for this piece is by Mark One87.
- Jed Buttress, an award-winning investigative artist, creates a 3D wall mural that resembles historical carvings inspired by the city.
- Laura Sheldon aka SHELDO, creates a striking mural inspired by Victorian pleasure gardens with a bold, modern twist.
- Rebecca Purnell, creates a piece depicting ordinary people of Newcastle becoming one with nature, limbs twisting around trees and faces peeping out from the foliage.
- Tullulah Lines creates a bright, bold, magical, and surreal piece inspired by the freedom and joy of nature and the outdoors.
Visitors to Forth Lane will now enjoy six murals that breathe new life into the historic lane that has been in use since the 1500s.
The lane once led to a 4-acre field enjoyed by people of all ages for leisure and pleasure: a playground, dancing square, sports field, a meeting place, or somewhere to stroll and enjoy the view.
The Industrial Revolution saw Newcastle’s population explode as time passed, and Forth Lane became part of the city. The quiet, picturesque leisure park and the tree-lined path were lost.
With this urban gallery, Creative Central NCL hopes to restore some of the freedom, joy, and tranquillity of a walk in the park.
Laura Sheldon, a commissioned artist, said, “I’m elated to receive this commission! Newcastle holds a very special place in my heart so to have a mural in such a central and historic area is a dream come true.
My initial idea was to couple the exuberant fashion of the time with a surreal depiction of the Forth Gate Victorian fenced Pleasure Garden nestled amongst the character’s hair. I wanted to include a modern style and serene character to emphasise how we still use green spaces as an oasis to escape the city’s hustle and bustle. Looking back to the past as well as looking forward to our ongoing relationship with nature.”
Creative Central NCL is a five-year project funded by North East Combined Authority and Newcastle City Council. The partnership is investing £1.7m in Creative Central NCL to make central Newcastle a vibrant place for creativity and culture, and to create more opportunities for artists and creative businesses to thrive.
Cllr Abdul Samad, Cabinet member for a Vibrant City at Newcastle City Council, said: “It is fantastic to see different pieces of art brightening up our city centre, providing local people with free access to public art as well as opportunities for local artists to showcase their work and share it with others.
“Creative Central NCL is playing such a pivotal role in providing local artists and creatives the platform to establish themselves and grow, and it is testament to the project’s success that in just over a year, it has committed over £588,000 to artists and creative organisations.
“Art and culture have such an important part to play in our city, and in the wellbeing of so many people who enjoy it. It is also a pleasure to see this project transforming a public place so strikingly.”
The Forth Lane Urban Gallery is open now.
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