Moving on Up, Moving on Out comes to a close

Yesterday marked the end of an era, with the closing of the final exhibition to be held in the NewBridge Project Space.

It was the last time that Holly and I were working in the project space making wrapping paper for our 'Raise A Mug for NewBridge' artwork.

Here are some photos of the wrapping paper we produced yesterday.

This will be used to wrap mugs given to us by studio holders to transport to the new building. Once we have moved into the new building we are going to host a studio warming get-together at which studioholders will be reunited with their mug. We will have a drink to toast to the new phase in The NewBridge Project's history.

Why a Newcastle city centre building colonised by artists will soon be empty again

Norham House, round the corner from the Odeon on Pilgrim Street, has been home to a thriving creative community

BY DAVID WHETSTONE

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/newcastle-city-centre-building-colonised-12687355

3rd March 2017

Artists who brought new life to one of Newcastle city centre’s giant former office blocks are packing up and moving.

Their final exhibition – called Moving On Up, Moving On Out – finishes on Saturday and that will be the end of Norham House as a cultural venue.

The building on New Bridge Street, opposite Newcastle City Library, is on the East Pilgrim Street site which the city council has earmarked for major regeneration.

Eventually it will be demolished like the old Odeon, on nearby Pilgrim Street, which was on the same site.

But it has brought into question the value of having clusters of mostly young artists and creative people in the centre of a university city which has long prided itself on its culture and vibrancy.

It was in 2010 that a pair of young fine art graduates were handed the keys to empty Norham House as part of a scheme to keep the city centre alive during the recession when a lot of development projects got put on hold.

Previously its five storeys had been occupied by lawyers and accountants. Now the artists invited others to join them, paying a peppercorn rent.

Norham House became better known as The NewBridge Project with a street level gallery and bookshop and a warren of studios, workshops and exhibition spaces.

It has run a programme of exhibitions, talks and other events and has been a popular destination during the annual Late Shows in Newcastle and Gateshead.

Charlotte Gregory, who studied fine art at Newcastle University, became director of The NewBridge Project in 2014.

She said the artists had been given six months’ notice to leave the building back in October.

“Norham House includes the bookshop and gallery and there’s also the Maker Space next door and the Alphabetti Theatre underneath,” she said.

“Then there are the 80 studios we have upstairs along with workshops, a dark room, a film lab and also a rehearsal space and project spaces.

“Nearly 100 people regularly work here but if you think of our public bookshop, gallery and events, there are a lot more people that benefit from these spaces.”

Charlotte said the eventual move had always been anticipated but that didn’t make it easier.

“I think it’s quite difficult for a lot of people because we’ve been here for nearly seven years now.

“It forms a big part of people’s lives because it’s not just a work space, it’s about a sense of community and being surrounded by a network of your peers.

“A lot of development work happens here and there are opportunities for commissions and exhibitions.

“It has sparked a lot of things for people, enabling them to continue their creative careers and remain in the city.

“A lot of our studio holders studied at Newcastle and Northumbria universities, and even at Sunderland, and have said they would have moved away if it hadn’t been for things like NewBridge because it’s affordable and there’s an openness.

“There’s a grassroots feel with the sense that anybody can get involved.

“So there was initially a lot of sadness and a sense of loss. But there has also been a sense of camaraderie. It has brought people closer together and there has even been a sense of excitement about creating the next space.”


It’s not the end for the NewBridge artists who have been given the chance to relocate to Carliol House, a Grade II-listed building in the same ownership on the corner of Market Street and Pilgrim Street.

“The landlords have been quite accommodating, allowing us to have that six months, and the council have been very supportive in helping with the relocation,” Charlotte said.

“For this building we’re signing a two-year lease. It’s slightly smaller so I think we’re going to have to use it in a slightly different way.

“But we have also been looking for a more secure space which would be sustainable for the longer term.”

Charlotte said places like NewBridge were “incredibly important” for cities such as Newcastle which boasted big cultural venues.

“If you have places like Baltic and Northern Stage you want young creative people to stay in the region and places like NewBridge allow a really experimental approach.”


Charlotte said The NewBridge Project had worked closely with Newcastle University and had commissioned a study by academic Dr Martyn Hudson, looking at the social and economic impact of its work.

This was launched at Norham House this week with high profile speakers supporting the idea of creative hubs in the city centre.

Sarah Munro, director of Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, said places like NewBridge were “absolutely critical” to Baltic and an important constituent of the region’s cultural scene.

They ensured a community of artists with a “high quality practice” and a culture of experimentation.

Artists and smaller arts organisations she likened to bees. “They’re really tiny but you take them out of a system and it collapses.”

Hans Möller, innovation director of the North East LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership), said “creative people doing creative things” were important economically and socially.

“Creative/digital is one of the sectors we’re focusing on because you can get access to funding for it,” he said.

“We need to be better at supporting start-ups in the digital sector.”

John Tomaney, professor of urban and regional planning at University College London but based in the North East, suggested the value of places like NewBridge shouldn’t be measured purely in economic terms.

“The biggest problem facing Newcastle and the North East is a problem of civic disenchantment which was best expressed in Brexit,” he argued.

“In terms of the impact and value of NewBridge, rather than its economic value we should be asking, ‘What does it contribute to the city and region as a decent place to live for the majority of people?’

“It’s a massive, massive question but worthy of discussion.”

Earlier Tom Warburton, director of investment and development at Newcastle City Council, said: “They have really worked hard, the artists there.

“They have been on low rents but they have created quite a creative fulcrum so, from the council’s point of view, we’ll continue to liaise with them to keep the vibe going.”

But the council, while it doesn’t own the buildings, is keen to see the redevelopment of East Pilgrim Street which it regards as one of the most strategically important in the north of England.

It, of course, will benefit from the business rates paid by the eventual occupants of the Northam House area which has been earmarked for retail development.

Norham House, like other buildings on the East Pilgrim Street site, is managed by Motcomb Estates on behalf of Taras Properties, a company owned by David and Simon Reuben, billionaire property developers.

A spokesman for Motcomb Estates’ agents in Newcastle, GVA, said no date had been announced for the demolition of any of the buildings but the work would be phased.

Meanwhile the artists keep ducking and diving, adding colour and variety to urban life.

For more about The Newbridge Project go to www.thenewbridgeproject.com

Moving on Up, Moving on Out – Research Launch Event

Dr Martyn Hudson has been researching the social and economic benefits of The NewBridge Project. The retention of artists within the creative economy of the North East and looking at measures of value that accrue to the City of Newcastle specifically, have been part of the research. Particularly exciting have been the ways in which the artists have responded to themes of social justice and inclusion within the city and measurable ways in which the transformative power of arts and design work can be perceived.



Martyn was joined by guests:

Hans Moller, former Chief Executive of Sweden’s Ideon Science Park & Director of Innovation at North East LEP;

Julie Sanders, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Newcastle University;




Sarah Munro, Director of Baltic Centre of Contemporary Art and

John Tomaney, Professor at University College London (UCL).

They shared insights into the impact of arts and culture and creative hubs on cities and responded directly to some of the conclusions of the research.


It was also a great chance to see a slideshow of photos taken by Kuba Ryniewicz of NewBridge studio holders.

The NewBridge Project was established in 2010, as part of a meanwhile project based from Norham House, a 27,000 ft2 office block, within the East Pilgrim Street area of Newcastle, marked for redevelopment and eventual demolition. For nearly 7 years it has been home to a vibrant community of artists, supporting hundreds of artists through; provision of studio & workspace, artist training & development programmes and a pioneering artist-led programme of exhibitions, commissions and events. In April, we bid farewell to our current building after 7 years, and are moving on to pastures new.



Moving on up, Moving on out, is a month long exhibition and programme of events, celebrating The NewBridge Project and the people who make it what it is.

The final week of Moving on up, moving on out

Don't miss the final week of MOVING ON UP, MOVING ON OUT. This is The NewBridge Project's finale exhibition and programme of events in our current building before we move to a new home.

Moving on up, Moving on out places artists at it heart, and has been collectively shaped and devised by 30 artist members, featuring work by over 80 NewBridge artists past and present.

Throughout the duration of the exhibition the curation has been fluid, with people changing the layout of the artworks. So even if you have been before, chances are that you wont have seen it as it is now.

More outputs from the weekend

Holly and I were in the Moving on up, Moving on out Project Space again this weekend, making bespoke wrapping paper. It will be used to wrap the mugs we are being given by the NewBridge studioholders. Once wrapped, we will be transporting the mugs to the new NewBridge home, where the studioholders will be reunited with their mugs and we will have a cuppa to celebrate the new stage in the NewBridge history.

Here are some of the results of the weekend.

Busy day at the wrapping paper making station

Once again Holly and I spent our Saturday afternoon in the NewBridge Project Space making bespoke wrapping paper which we will use to wrap studioholders mugs before transporting them to the new building where we will host a studio warming gathering.



We are beginning to build up quite a collection of papers, and it was great to see that someone had the excellent idea of using the shelving system (specially built to store the works that are in the exhibition) as a means of displaying the range of wrapping papers.

The tea trolley is ready and waiting for mugs

Now that the NewBridge community tea towels have arrived (and are quickly proving to be a big hit on the Newcastle high street), it is time to turn to the next part of our project - getting ready for the studio warming welcome drink that I am sure we will all need after the move.

We hope that NewBridge studio holders and staff moving to the next building will give us (temporarily) one of your studio mugs to protect and wrap (in custom-made wrapping paper), transport to the new building and return to you (filled with a drink!) at the Carliol House studio-warming event.



Please label your mug with your name so that we know who it belongs to, and leave it either on the tea trolley in the NewBridge Bookshop, with the staff in the NB office, or with us (Helen Shaddock and Holly Wheeler) when we are in the Project Space on Saturdays between 1-4pm and for Tea and Toast on Wednesday mornings before 10am.

Another Saturday making wrapping paper for Raise a mug for NewBridge

Holly and I spent another enjoyable Saturday afternoon in the NewBridge Project Space as part of Moving on up, Moving on out, The NewBridge Project’s last ever show in it's current building.



Every Saturday during the exhibition we are setting up a wrapping paper making station in the Project Space. As part of our Raise a Mug for NewBridge project, we are creating a range of bespoke wrapping papers. A different wrapping paper will be used to wrap each mug donated to us from a NewBridge studioholder. We will individually wrap each mug, transport them to the new NewBridge premises, and then return the mugs to their studioholder owner at a studiowarming gathering. After all the hard work of the move, we will put the kettle on, make tea, and Raise our mugs as a toast to the next stage in NewBridge's history.

http://thenewbridgeproject.com/events/moving-on-up-moving-on-out/

Talking Trade Unions over tea and toast

Theresa Easton from Artists Union England joined us for tea and toast at The NewBridge Project this morning.



8 to 14 February is heartunions week, and Theresa was telling us more about what it is and what is happening to celebrate it over the next few days.

Heartunions week is a week of activity throughout England and Wales promoting the benefits of trades unionism, raising the profile of unions in their communities and online.

On Thursday 9 February at 12:30pm the General Secretary of the British Trades Union Congress, Frances O’Grady will be taking part in “The Big Workplace Meeting”. She will be talking about the importance of unions in the workplace and the vital role unions reps play.

The Big Workplace Meeting will be a short live event, broadcast to branch meetings throughout the country. Artists Union England will be joining up with Unite Community, 4th Floor, Broadacre House to tune into the event. They welcome interested people to bring their lunch and find out more!

For more information please visit

http://www.artistsunionengland.org.uk/

http://heartunions.org/


To hear Theresa talk a little about Artists Union England, please visit

https://www.facebook.com/thenewbridgeproject/

Rise and shine with Tea and Toast at The NewBridge Project

TEA AND TOAST- EVERY WEDNESDAY DURING THE EXHIBITION, 7:30-10am

(8, 15, 22 FERUARY AND 1 MARCH) IN THE PROJECT SPACE

Every Wednesday morning during Moving on up, Moving on out we will be providing free cups of tea and toast in the project space.



It's a good chance to come and talk to me about Raise a Mug to NewBridge and to immerse yourself in Moving on up, Moving on out, The NewBridge Project’s last ever show in our current building.

The month-long exhibition and programme has artists at its heart, and has been collectively shaped and devised by over 30 artist members. It has work by over 80 artist members, and will be constantly fluctuating, with the space being re-curated daily into something new, by artists residing in the communal workspace situated in the gallery.

Raise a mug to NewBridge - visit us in NewBridge Project Space on Saturday's between 1-4pm

WRAPPING SESSIONS – EVERY SATURDAY DURING THE EXHIBITION, 1-4 pm

(4, 11, 18, 25 FEBRUARY AND 4 MARCH) IN THE PROJECT SPACE

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Every Saturday during Moving on up, Moving on out we will be based in the project space where we will be designing and producing handmade wrapping materials, and then packaging studioholders’ mugs to be transported to the new venue for the studio warming cuppa.

These are some photos of what we got up to on Saturday.

Hot Toddy from the Tea Trolley tonight at NewBridge - 6-9pm

Escape from the cold and enter the warmth of NewBridge with a Hot Toddy from our tea trolley and a preview of the Moving on up, Moving on out exhibition.

You will also be able to see a mock up version of the NewBridge community tea towel featuring over 45 drawings of, and by, the NewBridge community, and we'll be taking pre-orders so you can be sure not to miss out on purchasing one of these limited edition artworks. They are currently at the printers, but should be here in about 2 weeks! At a price of £5 per tea towel, you can't go wrong!

It's looking like we will be based in the NewBridge Bookshop so be sure to pop in. Looking forward to seeing you in a few hours. The bookshop will have a studio plan that is part monument, part model and part mind map, designed by studio member David Lisser, which will begin evolving on the launch night, with people and studio members contributing to the structure and web of networks and friendships.

Moving on Up, Moving on Out at NewBridge - Friday 3rd February, 6-9pm

Moving on Up, Moving on Out Launch Event
Friday 3 February, 6-9pm

Join us to celebrate the launch of Moving on Up, Moving on Out, the last ever exhibition launch in the NewBridge Project Space and Bookshop.

The exhibition will be changed and re-curated by artist members throughout the evening, with performances from studio members, including a poetry reading by Greyscale.

We will be serving hot toddies from our tea trolley on the opening night.

The bookshop will have a studio plan that is part monument, part model and part mind map, designed by studio member David Lisser, which will begin evolving on the launch night, with people and studio members contributing to the structure and web of networks and friendships.

http://thenewbridgeproject.com/events/moving-on-up-launch-event/

Last chance to be on the NewBridge community tea towel

Thanks to everyone who has submitted a drawing for the NewBridge community tea towel. Holly and I are incredibly pleased that so many people have contributed. The drawings range from detailed portraits, to cartoon versions, to abstract representations of the artist. By the looks of things, its going to be a masterpiece of a tea towel.

If you have not sent us a image, but are keen to take part, you have until 12pm midday today (Sunday 29th January) to send us an email or facebook message with your drawing. We will be spending the rest of the day scanning the artworks, formatting the drawings and then designing the tea towel so it is ready to be sent off to the printers on Monday morning. 

We are very excited to see all the drawings come together, and will continue to report on progress here, so keep your eyes on the look out.

https://www.facebook.com/Raiseamug/

Digital drawings accepted for the NewBridge community tea towel

If you are struggling to come into the NewBridge Studios to pop your drawing into the box for the tea towel, do not panic, you can send it to us digitally.

Our first Mr and Mrs for the tea towel

Caught in the act of drawing

With less than a week to go until the deadline for drawings for the NewBridge community tea towel, the NewBridge art community in Newcastle, around the UK and further afield are busy working on and sending us their drawings. 

Keep them coming!

NewBridge community tea towel - guess who!

I was delighted to open the NewBridge community tea towel box tonight and find another drawing to be added to the tea towel. Can you guess who drew this?

For more information about Raise a Mug, please visit

https://www.facebook.com/Raiseamug/