NEWS: Bring the Happy @ North Shore, Sunderland

What is your happiest memory? A new arts project across Wearside and South Tyneside is asking people that question in an attempt to map locations that hold a place in our hearts. The fourth major commission from The Cultural Spring, Bring The Happy is led by Leeds-based arts collective Invisible Flock, who have been taking Bring The Happy nationwide since 2010.

Designed as a way of pinpointing the relationship between memories and places, the project’s ultimate aim is to create a wide-reaching ‘happiness map’ which will form part of a digital archive from locations across the world.

The original exhibitions, which have been displayed since 20^th January and run until 19^th February, is leading up to a much larger three-day live music event at Sunderland’s North Shore, starting from Thursday 26^th February. People who have already shared a memory are automatically invited to the event, which is being described as somewhere between a wedding and a wake. If you’re sceptical of the government’s attempt to map the nation’s level of happiness, then this much more artistic take on the idea is a much more engaging prospect.

Bring the Happy Live takes place at North Shore, Sunderland on Thursday 26th February.