A community arts project bringing together residents in two South Shields wards has secured almost £10,000 to continue its work.
These Streets, commissioned by The Cultural Spring and led by artist and producer Louie Ingham, has been working with people in Simonside and Rekendyke to create art, music, food and events rooted in the two communities.
A £9,903 grant from the Community Foundation North East’s Belong North East Fund will allow the project to continue for another three months, including a new programme of weekly sessions at St Jude’s Church Hall in Rekendyke.
The first phase of These Streets has involved three projects developed with local residents.
Ride and Seek is an audio artwork made with young people and other residents, featuring poetry from Simonside spoken word artist Tahmina Ali and music and sound co-created with Calum Howard and Martin Trollope. There are hopes the finished track can be installed on the Number 18 bus.
If Buses Be the Food Of Love, Hop On has combined cooking and creative workshops aboard the Key Community Bus, while From Mine to Yours has offered a programme of artistic workshops designed to develop residents’ creative skills.
Louie said: “The first phase of our project has gone so well, and this new funding enables a regular weekly project at St Jude’s Church Hall in Rekendyke to be developed.
“We’ve established some great relationships and connections – this is a place full of untapped talent and creative energy, and we’d like to build on creative cohesion within the wards.”
The next phase begins on October 12, with the These Streets community company meeting at St Jude’s on Monday evenings from 5pm to 7pm.
A chef will work with participants to prepare a two-course meal using readily available ingredients, while creative sessions will be led by musicians, illustrators, writers and ceramic artists.
There will be a different focus each week, with people of all abilities encouraged to take part and the group working towards a semi-open mic night in December.
For more information about the groups, email Louie on louie.ingham@theculturalspring.org.uk