55 Creative Project

Newcastle's newest art gallery isn't in a grand old building like the Laing or a repurposed industrial building like The Baltic, but beneath the 55 Degrees North roundabout and Central Motorway. It is part of the 55 Creative project, an initiative that is a partnership between NE1 and Newcastle City Council to improve the subways beneath the roundabout.

Working with 90 art students from Newcastle College, a series of 39 new artworks have been chosen to brighten up 75m of wall in a formerly dull and graffitied subway. The inspiration for the artworks was the 1960s Pop Art movement, made famous by the likes of Andy Warhol, and a theme based on spaces and places.

Hundreds of volunteers from local businesses helped to prepare the walls by whitewashing them before the students colourful and striking artworks were installed. The idea is to help instil a sense of pride in the area and to animate the bare walls with the artwork. Many of the students were not originally from Newcastle so were creating pieces which reflected how they saw the city as newcomers. As a result, the work features many of the famous local landmarks we all know and love, such as the Tyne Bridge, the Theatre Royal and Fabulous North favourite, the Vampire Rabbit.

The project is part of a city-wide initiative to brighten and improve areas through the introduction of art and is proving to be very popular and successful. We can't wait to see where the next urban art gallery pops up.