Arts and Activism in the North—What Now!?

An Open Space event by UNION: The Northern School for Creativity and Activism at The NewBridge Project in Gateshead

When & where

  • DateSaturday 31st Aug '19
  • Time10:30am to 5:00pm
  • WhereThe NewBridge Project: Gateshead Map
  • View on Facebook

Download event details

Prefer to save or print the event details?

Download PDF

Tickets

This event has finished so tickets are no longer available.

Accessibility criteria*

  • Accessible car-parking
  • Wheelchair access

* Other Access Details available on request

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us…”

Charles Dickens wrote his opening for “A tale of two cities” at the time of the French Revolution some 160 years ago… but if feels just as apt in today’s world.

In our polarised world, how do creative approaches help to challenge and change power relationships? What can we do individually and collectively to achieve political and social change? And what should our focus be in a complex inter-linked world?

What Now!?

————————–
An Open Space event
Saturday 31st August 10:30am to 5pm
The NewBridge Project: Gateshead

Who is it for?
We are inviting people who are passionate about using creativity to make the world a better place (but maybe not completely decided how best to achieve the dream!)

Open Space?
It’s a way of organising that is carefully designed to elicit maximum involvement and creativity in a constructive atmosphere. It is also highly flexible so that the content is entirely determined by you—the participants. For more on open space…

Where: The NewBridge Project: Gateshead
232-240 High Street, Gateshead, NE8 1AQ

Access: NewBridge Gateshead has full street-level accessibility and accessible toilets. This event will take place in the co-work space on the ground floor. Please contact us before the event if you require additional information regarding access and facilities union@headstogether.org

Childcare: We will be providing creche/childcare on site through Clowning Around. Places are limited so please contact us direct if that would be helpful for you…  union@headstogether.org

Food: Vegan food will be provided by the lovely people at Ugly Duckling.

The event is FREE, to book yourself a space please book online through Eventbrite

UNION: The Northern School for Creativity and Activism is a sector-based coaching programme for emerging community artists and social activists across the north of England. Supported by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Arts Council England.

The NewBridge Project creates space for the development, production and presentation of contemporary art practice whilst being aware and responsive to the social, political and civic landscape that we exist in.

Images from the UNION programme...

Thoughts from UNION participants

  • It’s great to have the idea of an intensive weekend but in the context of a year-long programme. It’s the slow cooker thing. There is time!

  • Compassion, understanding, empathy, community and collaboration was at the forefront of this meet-up…I’ve come away feeling inspired, excited, uplifted and energised to do something BIG!

  • Sometimes this creative journey can feel quite lonely and misunderstood. Last weekend, I found people in similar situations trying to get projects off the ground for the communities we work for and in. I learnt a heck of a lot about community engagement, the types of community engagement and, at last, acquired vocabulary (and validation) to frame the work I do as a practitioner.

  • I’ve been lucky in this life to have opportunities that accommodate my disability, and this programme was no different. This time though, I actually felt safe enough in myself to leave those worries at the door and participate as me. A HUGE thank you for making the weekend possible, for making it so accessible, the support – before and during and for the homestay.

  • I’ve had a lot to think about, and it’s all noted down in my reflective journal…Where do I want to be in a year’s time? What do I want from Union? My relationship with community arts and the ways in which to implement effective change, including within my NHS day-job.