NewcastleGateshead
Initiative and culture10 plans post March
2010
Happy Christmas and New Year to you from all
of the team at culture10. Plans continue to develop for
NewcastleGateshead Initiative’s culture programme post-March 2010 –
so we wanted to give you a quick update on where we are in time for
2010…
The desire is that NewcastleGateshead will continue to
be a place where extraordinary things happen 365 days a year. A
place buzzing with creative spirit and cultural adventure.
This vision is based around the values and principles of
rootedness, opportunity, and risk taking. We will aim to achieve
mass local engagement and to continue to deliver world-class culture
which defines our place and reaches out to the world.
The
culture team will have a new structure which will be announced early
next year along with more detailed plans – we’ll update you again in
the new year.
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 Farewell
from Stella Hall
As I leave you to take up the new
role of Festival Director, Preston Guild 2012, I take with me many
happy memories and significant learning from the last five years; of
extraordinary people and places, opening celebrations and
anniversaries, festivals and events across the North East. Preston
Guild is an event that began in 1174 and takes place once every
twenty years. It is built around pride and people and place, so of
course I will be able to build on the experiences here and return
regularly for inspiration! I can’t single out my one memory – but
will treasure Berwick ‘s cold Northumberland Lights, Sunderland’s
rainy but beautiful Aquatic Centre opening, the dramatic Odin’s Glow
of Roseberry Topping, Durham Illuminate and Lumiere, dancing at
Tynemouth Priory at Mouth of the Tyne, welcoming in the QE2, every
event on the NewcastleGateshead Quayside..and so many more. I am
proud to have initiated a cultural leadership programme that has
helped show many of you that the region has all the skills it needs
within the workforce here. I certainly have benefited from a hugely
talented team at culture10, and I will miss them most of
all.
I will continue to live in Whitley Bay, so please keep
me in touch with all of your activities at s.hall@preston.gov.uk and I
will invite you all to join us in the North West in September
2012. |
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 Culture10
team 2009 highlights
Carol Bell – Head of
Programme Development
It’s hard to pick a favourite but for
me Reinventing the City with its broad scope and eclectic but
cohesive programme was a real highlight. Taking part in the public
debates which provoked new ideas and thoughts that even those that
had been working on the festival hadn’t thought of was exciting
stuff.”
Vikki Leaney – Programme Development
Executive
“My favourite moment of the 2009
culture10 programme was without a doubt the first time I
walked into the WILDWORKS shanty town for The Beautiful Journey. To
explore a totally immersive world with such a dramatic and unusual
backdrop is something that will stay with me for a long
time.”
Ele Forsyth – Programme Development
Executive
“Although I’m loath to choose favourites out of the
many fantastic festivals and events we have worked on this year (ok
at a push they would be EAT! NewcastleGateshead, Northern Print
Biennale, Wunderbar and Lumiere), the moment of 2009 that will
always stay with me is the first time I saw Kassandra (played by the
uber talented Sue Hill) being hoisted up by a crane and swung
through the air in her caged weather monitoring contraption in
WILDWORKS’ extraordinary promenade production, The Beautiful
Journey, on the banks of the Tyne. I gasped in wonder like a child!
“
WILDWORKS
image © Steve Tanner. |
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 New
Years Eve – Winter Carnival
After the great
success of our Glowmobile parade and fireworks on New Years Eve over
the past two years we’re working with Walk the Plank again this year
to turn Newcastle town centre into an ice hot winter carnival
complete with Newcastle’s very own fiery Ice Queen (created by Walk
the Plank). Working with hundreds of local participants who will be
turning out in colourful force, and joined by two exotic carnival
queens (Latin American goddess Pachamama created by Mandinga and
South East Asian Peacock Queen created by Kinetika) the Winter
Carnival will be the best way to spend the afternoon and early
evening on New Years Eve. Find more information about the
celebrations at newcastlegateshead.com/winterfestival
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 Volunteers
We’re
always on the look-out for enthusiastic, committed and experienced
cultural volunteers to work in a variety of roles across the entire
culture10 programme. If you are interested in signing up
to find out more about volunteering opportunities please send your
CV and contact details to Ele Forsyth eleanor.forsyth@ngi.org.uk. |
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