Raise A Mug Studiowarming at Carliol House

Finally, its here! After a long and tiresome move, we can finally enjoy a proper brew, catch up and celebrate our move to the new building!

On 2nd May at 6pm join Helen and Holly at Carliol House in the shared space where you can collect your mug and have a cuppa and some cake with us.

If you were unable to donate a mug for the move but would like to join us, not to worry, the event is open to all studioholders. Just bring a mug!

The Newbridge tea towels will also be available to buy for £5 each.

Look forward to seeing you all there!

Holly and Helen :)

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

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.

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/

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.

Thanks to all who contributed to the NewBridge Community tea towel

Over the past few weeks Holly Wheeler and I have been gathering drawings of, and from, members of the NewBridge community for inclusion on the NewBridge community tea towel that we are creating. There has been an incredible response from over 45 artists. The illustrations range from cartoon style line drawings to detailed studies of the human form and the occasional abstract representations. 

We would like to thank the following artists for participating in our project and submitting a drawing to be included on the tea towel:

Aaron Guy

Adam Goodwin

Arnaud Moinet

Bailey (the dog)

Charlie Gregory

Clare Gomez

David Foggo

Dean Crawford

Eddy Robinson

Edmund English

Edwin Li

Hannah Kirkham

Hannah Marsden

Harry

Helen Shaddock

Holly Wheeler

Jackson + Pete

Jade Sweeting

Janina

Jessie Jacobs

Jo Hislop

Joe Shaw

Julia Heslop

Juliet Fleming

Katy Cole

Kuba

Lesley Anne Rose

Louie Pegna

Louise Mackenzie

Luke Mullen

Maria Abbott

Martin Kellett

Matthew Pickering

Neil Armstrong

Nick Kennedy

Olivia Turner

Ollie Doe

Paul Raymond

Rachael Clewlow

Rebecca Huggan

Rosie Morris

Roxie Watson

Sabina Sallis

Seb Trend

Taryn Edmonds

Toby Phips Lloyd

Wunderbar

Zoe Molloy

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/

Deadline extended - contributions to NewBridge community tea towel now due Saturday 28th January

As you know, I am working with Holly Wheeler on an artwork called Raise a mug which will be part of the last ever NewBridge Projects exhibition throughout the month of February.

We are producing a NewBridge tea towel featuring drawings of those in the NewBridge community - studio holders, past studio holders, members, staff, volunteers, exhibitors, and all those who are, and have been part of NewBridge.

If you are one of the above, we would really like for you to be included on the tea towel, and hope that you want to contribute.

All we need is a black and white line drawing of 'yourself', on white paper, occupying a space no bigger than 5cm x 5cm. Please include your name with the design. If you'd rather do a drawing of someone else in the NewBridge community, go ahead, but get don't forget to ask someone to draw you too!

You can leave the drawing in the box in the PMP Space on the 1st floor of NewBridge, pop it under my studio door on level 2, give it to us in person, leave it at the office, or post it to the NewBridge office. 

We have extended the deadline to 5pm on Saturday 28th January.

The tea towel will be for sale in the NewBridge bookshop. By the looks of the contributions so far, it will be a masterpiece!

We look forward to receiving your drawing.

I submitted my drawing today. You will have to wait for the finished tea towel to see the full image, but here is a sneaky preview.

The Empathy Tower

In response to the film I, Daniel Blake, artist John Harrison attempted to re-create the Job Seeker experience in the middle of Northumberland Street. Inviting interrogation of increasingly script-led, automated benefits system, he invited the audience to ‘sign on’. People were asked to take a small block of wood and write a message to show support for anyone; friends, colleagues, family members who may have been through or are going through the benefits system. These blocks formed an Empathy Tower in the middle of Northumberland Street, and were then moved to NewBridge Project Space for the remainder of the Hidden Civil War programme.

I was slightly disappointed at the lack of thought put into some of the messages written on the bricks, so when asked to contribute, I needed time to prepare my response. Having made my mind up overnight, I went to the gallery to make my mark but it was unfortunately shut.

John Harrison, if you are reading this, please write this on a brick on my behalf

"Job hunting is a full time job"

Transparent - Konrad Smoleński and Honza Zamojski at NewBridge Project Space

Transparent 
Konrad Smoleński and Honza Zamojski

Saturday 28 May - Saturday 9 July (performance: 4pm daily)
Preview: Friday 27 May 6-9pm

NewBridge Project Space

Transparent is a collaborative exhibition from Polish artists, Konrad Smoleński and Honza Zamojski, presented through a multimedia installation and performance.

One by one they enter the space, take off their shoes and trousers, drink some water and walk to the line of megaphones. Each picks up a megaphone and instructs the audience to watch the performance from outside the gallery. They reposition the megaphone on the floor in the line and walk over to the moving treadmill. In turn they jump onto the treadmill and begin to walk.

They walk

keeping a constant pace 

but with different rhythms

stride, 

tread, 

march,

pound,

This could appear to be rather grim, a group of individuals dressed in black, expressionless, marching at a consistent speed. Unable to escape the monotony of the platform.

However, I read it as more positive. It is not a military procedure. They maintain their individuality. Different strides. Different rhythms. But they also work as a group. 

I liken it to how the wider world can operate. People are aware of each other, and act together to keep things constant, consistent and in motion, yet they are also able to maintain their own identity.

Great attention has been paid to the architecture in the gallery. The bottom of the white walls have been removed all around the gallery, and clear plastic water bottles fill the gap between the end of the board on the wall and the floor. The gap between wall and floor is the same height as that of the treadmill. The lights in the gallery have been repositioned to shine directly above the points of action i.e. above the megaphones and the treadmill. The light above the megaphones is tinted a shade of blue to match the megaphone, and above the treadmill the lights remain white.

I really enjoy the way that the artists have made use of the large window space that separates the inside of the gallery from the pavement and main road. The gallery is positioned just opposite a bus stop; an ideal location to engage with the public. The treadmill is the same length as the window, and people are encouraged to view the performance from outside the gallery as well as inside.

Between the hours of 10am-3pm and 5pm-6pm (when there is no performance happening), the light remains on, highlighting the apparatus (treadmill and megaphones) that come into action when the performance happens.

'The project has evolved from an initial concept, which sought to explore models of art education that differ from those in the UK: specifically looking at the pedagogical practices of Polish professor, Leszek Knaflewski and his relationship with former students Konrad Smoleński and Honza Zamojski. Leszek Knaflewski sadly passed away in 2014 and the initial project could not be realised.

The project has developed into a collaboration between Smoleński and Zamojski as an experiment into their own artistic practice. Allowing them to take risks outside of a commercial gallery context, relax their everyday practice and redefine their artistic language in order to work together to create a new, communal platform and outlet for the unknown and poetical.

The framework of an institution like University of Arts in Poznań, allowed the relationship between Professor Knaflewski, Smoleński and Zamojski to dynamically thrive and evolve; roles could be reversed and power structure played upon, shifting and removing preponderance. Differences could be shared and considered as a resource.

Knaflewski’s pedagogical ambiguity, his ability to embrace authority and anarchy and to inspire and allow freedom has been influential on Smoleński and Zamojski’s respective practices and on shaping this particular project. By reflecting upon Knaflewski’s and their own methods, they have merged their individual artistic languages to create a fusion: two different set-ups of relations – one based on exchange and order, the other on chaos. Polarities brought to unity.

In this context, the complexity of relationship is seen as a system, therefore Transparent is a response to this relationship and can be thought of as a variable system; it comes on and off with a fluctuating rhythm. The system changes from active to passive and becomes a magazine of information and potential; the readiness of sleeping energy; the stage of becoming; the communion of nothingness.

Transparent features configurations of objects and humans, humans and architecture and exhibits, institutions and individuals. Within a carefully structured environment and a precisely scripted scenario of live action, humans animate the system regardless of bounds to establishment and restrictions. Humans excite the inanimate world to vibrate, bringing a dynamic that makes the system flexible. By employing simple elements like movement, water, rhythm of actions, order and vibrations – the image of potentiality is created, a potentiality that ultimately remains humane. This event is a snapshot – this abstract form of dissected actions and system becomes an anthropological artefact.'

For more information about the artists please visit:

www.konradsmolenski.com/
http://honzazamojski.tumblr.com