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"

HUMANKIND REDEFINED - A new political party

As part of The NewBridge Project's Hidden Civil War programme, Nini Ayach and Ailsa Dalling worked collaboratively with four different community groups from Newcastle to create an image of a ‘utopian leader’ which was then paraded through the streets of Newcastle.

The new political party was named HUMANKIND REDEFINED, and the puppet character was called Elvira Snowdon. As she was paraded up and down Northumberland Street on Saturday, supporters were handing out the party's manifesto:

Key Policy Proposals included

- Instituting country-wide daily nap times

- Free milk and biscuits for children and adults nightly (soya milk available)

- To increase happiness across the population, providing one cat per household (if wanted).

- Complete gender equality including equal pay for men and women

- Making glamour magazine illegal

- Building free cinemas that show only romantic movies

- Investing in time travel technology

- Abolishing the bedroom tax

- Sanctioning politicians who don't follow through with what they promise

- Public deodorant stands for people to use

Education

- Abolishing university fees

- Increasing the focus on emotional education

- No more homework

Environmental justice

- Suspending all nuclear power

- Shifting to 100% renewable energy, immediately

- Developing more green spaces and more community gardens

- Developing eco-friendly airplanes

- Fighting food waste

Disability rights

- Making it safer for people with disabilities to go out at night

- Battling mental health stigma

- Fighting hate crime

- Protecting the welfare state

- Encouraging more disabled politicians to run for office

I think government should take notice!

Akala at The NewBridge Project as part of Hidden Civil War

On Saturday I was fortunate enough to listen to Akala speak at The NewBridge Project as part of the Hidden Civil War programme.



I must admit that a few weeks ago, the name Akala meant nothing to me. I apologise now!

"This fiercely independent artist has performed in over 30 countries, released 6 albums, two books, presented the seminal Life of Rhyme for Channel 4, founded The Hip-Hop Shakespeare Company and has been a tireless voice for education and social justice in the UK and all over the world.

Akala is a MOBO Award Winning artist, an outspoken rapper, spoken word artist and writer. In 2008 Akala founded the Hip-Hop Shakespeare Company (Ian McKellen is a patron), a touring troupe performing Akala’s adaptations of Shakespeare’s work. His aim was to underline the similarity between the plays and the poetry of the best rappers, or, as he put it, “the lyricism that transcends all the revenge-tragedy, Tarantino violence”.



The ‘Doublethink’ diaries is a collection of dystopian poetry, the lyrics taken from the Doublethink album and selected other writings from one of the most interesting, informed and challenging voices to emerge from the British music scene in recent years. ‘The Ruins Of Empires’ — an epic poem and graphic novel features illustrations by Tokio Aoyama and follows ‘The Knowledge Seeker’ through the course of human history, via astral travel and multiple re-incarnations, in an attempt to discover the causes of the rise and fall of empires."

The event was sold out, additional tickets were released and there were people on the day coming into the gallery hoping that they would be able to get to see Akala in action.



For me, one of the best things about the Hidden Civil War programme is that it is attracting people who would not normally be contemporary art gallery visitors. I often go to art events and look in the room to see the same faces and wonder whether as artists we are just talking to other artists. But as I scanned the project space on Saturday, I was delighted to see many new faces I did not recognise from the art scene, and talk to a bunch of people who were new to NewBridge, but genuinely wanted to come back after this, their first experience. Surely that alone is an achievement in itself.

As for Akala, he spoke with passion, intelligence, wit, and responded to questions in a thoughtful and open manner. Politicians sure could learn some things from him!

Hidden Civil War Launch Event

Last night was the launch of Hidden Civil War, "a month long programme of activity in Newcastle upon Tyne, commissioned by The NewBridge Project. Throughout October 2016 activists and artists will contribute to a series of events that expose, collate and present evidence of a Hidden Civil War in Britain today.

The programme includes artworks, performances, public-realm interventions, talks and film screenings from internationally renowned artists and activists. A range of approaches have been taken, from quiet and considered talks and films, through to loud and overt calls for dissent. From playful interventions that subvert the political rhetoric, through to thought-provoking debates that highlight issues of austerity and give voice to marginalized groups. Whilst these works will be embedded within the city of Newcastle, they will be contextualised by national and international ideas of Hidden Civil War."

As with most previews, particularly at The NewBridge Project, there were so many people that it was extremely difficult to properly see most of the work, and I will definitely be returning to the Project Space to spend time considering the work.

A few one-off performances were commissioned for the launch event.

Ditte Elly set up outside the gallery windows in true busking style. Her "vocal performance explored the craft of song and story-telling, with an aim to question the relevance of ‘folk’ traditions in the modern age and how they can be used to engage in political ideas."

Richard DeDomenici was dispersing his customised balloons, each printed with one of nine revolutionary phrases such as "This is a protest", "All those racist people should go back to where they came from" and "Drone Machine". Throughout the festival more balloons will be free to take from the gallery, and it is hoped that the city will be populated with these subversive slogans.

The launch vibe was heightened when Dawn Bothwell performed altered electronic torch songs as Pentecostal Party.

It is all too easy to leave an exhibition opening without engaging with the artwork and forgetting its relevance, but the speeches by NewBridge Director Charlie Gregory and Chris Erskin, two of the core group of people behind Hidden Civil War were an excellent way to contextualise the launch and the programme of events to come. Given the nature of the exhibition, it seemed particularly appropriate to remind ourselves of the importance of our presence and what role we can play in shaping things to come.

For more information visit

http://thenewbridgeproject.com/hidden-civil-war/