Artists’ group set to open new hub in the city
A NORTH East artists’ collective is set to open a new creative and community hub in Newcastle.
The NewBridge Project has lodged plans to turn offices at the Shieldfield Centre into a “cultural space” including studios, workshop and gallery spaces, as well as a bookshop and hot-desking areas.
The project, which currently has sites on New Market Street in Newcastle city centre and Gateshead High Street, says the new hub will be “a public space where artists, residents and local communities can come together to work, learn, socialise and support each other, providing an important and collaborative resource for the artistic and local community alike”.
Planning documents say The NewBridge Project plans to lease the building over a five-year period from Newcastle City Council and to refurbish the building to create a multi-purpose cultural venue.
The application says it will “add benefit to the area [...] attract new people to Shieldfield and engage local residents”.
Proposals for the site include
■ Studio space - individual and shared studios for around 120 artists and creatives
■ Office space for around six creative start-ups and community-oriented organisation
■ Co-work space/event space for hot-desking and communal activity for up to 50 creatives
■ Two to three bookable project spaces for production and making, residencies and workshops; hosting events, meetings, conferences and exhibitions
■ Practical workshop space, including a wood workshop, darkroom, ceramics studio and printmaking studio
■ Storage facilities for creative and cultural organisations
■ A gallery space presenting a programme
of commissions, exhibitions, screenings, performances and events
NewBridge Bookshop would be housed in the current reception area, selling a selection of books, magazines, gifts and cards,acting as a shop, social space and entrance/ reception area for the building
Car parking spaces for up to 28 cars to the front of the building and in the under-croft car parking area on the lower ground floor
Part of the under-croft parking area will be used as a workshop space for the temporary storage and fabrication of larger works
The application says the NewBridge project is also developing a new youth programme for Shieldfield “built around the interests and needs of young people” offering a programme of in-person activity, with a regular youth group as well as monthly workshops, trips and events.
They also detail plans for communal events including free monthly lunches, educational events, and access to dedicated workshop days so local residents can use the woodwork, print, ceramic and dark room facilities.
The NewBridge Project has been a North East success story since it was established in Newcastle in 2010 by a pair of Newcastle University fine art graduates.