NEWS: The NewBridge Project move to Shieldfield Centre

Artist-led community The NewBridge Project celebrate the opening of their new home at the Shieldfield Centre this month. Having become known as a supportive community for creative practice, offering curatorial opportunities to artists and providing artist-led programmes of exhibitions, commissions and events, NewBridge’s new home will provide their hands-on team with an opportunity to engage with local residents and encourage them to interact with art in their communities.

Rebecca Huggan, director of The NewBridge Project, explains their focus: “We will work with artists, communities and residents to shape the space and our programme so we can be responsive to the interests and needs of those around us and will continue to produce an ambitious programme of exhibitions, off-site project, events and artist development. We want to continue to create new work that is experimental, responsive to its environment, builds solidarity and places community-centered, collaborative and socially conscious programming at its heart.”

Blazing New Worlds is the well-titled first exhibition in their new space and also serves to celebrate their 11^th birthday. In turning the lens on themselves, they’ll explore the current and future role of artist-led spaces within their communities with a series of open calls and funding opportunities, with commissions by artists Graeme Hopper (Grassi Art) and Cassie Thornton, as well as a residency on Slack’s Radio.

Also located within the space, The Radical Reading Room will provide access to books, reading groups and talks with authors on a variety of subjects, with the aim of becoming a catalyst for creative thinkers and critical minds.

The NewBridge Project opens at the Shieldfield Centre, Newcastle on Friday 22^nd October. Blazing New Worlds runs until Saturday 29^th January (open Weds-Fri & every other Sat)