Funded by the North East Combined Authority, Newcastle City Council and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund via the UK Government, the new works are set to expand Newcastle's growing art scene, bringing colour and collaboration to two of the city’s most historic streets.
The latest works appear at two historic city lanes, Forth Lane and Pink Lane, and respond to the theme “Pleasure Garden”, nodding to Forth Lane’s former role as a walkway to the Forth, which was formerly a well-loved green space used for community gathering.
The latest works appear at two historic lanes, Forth Lane and Pink Lane...
The Forth Lane Urban Gallery first launched in October 2024 and is a collaborative project led by Creative Central NCL in partnership with Newcastle Arts Centre, Project North East and NE1.
This year, Forth Lane features new pieces by four artists: Bex Masters, Bethan Harris, Mark Shields (Mark One87) and Josie Brookes.
Each piece reflects a personal story of the heritage and unique experiences held within the city. Masters, a gilder and oil painter, is exploring the theme "through the eyes and hands of a person of colour." Harris, inspired by the landscapes of Northumberland, examines the sensory connection with nature.
Each piece reflects a personal story of the heritage and unique experiences held within the city.
Graffiti artist Shields has collaborated with residents of Tyneside Foyer to express people's instinctual need to connect with nature. Meanwhile, Brookes worked with the students of Newcastle College to celebrate the voices of young artists.
On Pink Lane, artists Millie Avis and Alex Saunders (ALECLDN) are designing hand-painted artworks to guide visitors towards nearby cultural venues such as The Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre and the Tyne Theatre and Opera House. Their playful, small-scale designs feature on facades, gates and shopfronts.
Newcastle City Council sees the display of public art as an opportunity to enrich the city centre, with projects like this highlighting the value of creativity in bringing people together.