Newcastle street gets colourful makeover to create the first of the city’s unique villages
The colourful addition to the Newcastle city centre street marks the first of many.
A permanent piece of street art has been installed in Newcastle to mark Pride Month and kickstart a new programme across the city.
The colourful street crossing now sits on Marlborough Crescent in the city centre. It is the first in an NE1 placemaking programme to promote distinct areas of Newcastle and celebrate the city as one made up of unique villages.
The vibrant piece of road art, designed by Sail Creative, is called ‘United Together’ and depicts two hands held together in solidarity.
NE1 worked closely with LGBTQIA+ groups, Curious Arts, local community groups and businesses in the area, including hosting two workshops to work on ideas for the design of the road crossing and to create something that celebrates the area, its businesses and the people who live, work and visit.
The ‘United Together’ design focuses on showing the strength of the LGBTQIA+ community by coming together through celebration and support.
The installation will be the first of many as NE1 strives to celebrate the unique areas of Newcastle, ranging from Chinatown to the Quayside, the Bigg Market to Grainger Town.
NE1 plans to work with different parts of the city to identify what makes them distinct and collectively decide how to celebrate their uniqueness.
Mandy Barker, Founder and Creative Director, of Sail Creative said: “The ‘United Together’ concept is about showing the strength of our LGBTQIA+ community, coming together through celebration and support.
“It is exciting to see the plans for the crossing that we have worked on for so long come to fruition. This is a wonderful addition to the area. The image of the hands clutched together signifies strength, solidarity and support and sends a clear message of hope, celebration, progress and joy. We hope this will be a catalyst for greater things to come for the area, a positive move towards a safer and more inviting space that will build pride, whilst celebrating difference and togetherness.”