Map will be a fitting finale to the library

How fitting it is, that a Mackem Map, featuring the stories and memories of Wearsiders, will be at the heart of one of the last exhibitions to be held at Sunderland City Library before it closes on Fawcett Street and relocates to the Museum and Winter Gardens on November 19. Many people, including Look North’s Jeff Brown, have already contributed to the map. Now local people are being urged to make further contributions to the 15ft map, which is the brainchild of artist Ian Potts, when a series of workshops are held across the city. During these five workshops, Ian hopes to meet up with anyone who has already made a contribution to the map, and others who have yet to add their own stories to it. Ian said: “The response to the map has been over whelming. Barry Curran, the former mayor of Sunderland, felt his own intense passion for the city was perfectly reflected by the maps. “The reaction from Mackems has proved equally enthusiastic.” So if you want to make your own mark as a Mackem, then get along to one of the workshops, and put your own thoughts and memories –on the map.