Colourful new artworks designed with the help of local school children are brightening up Tynemouth station as a project to restore it continues.
As part of the cultural and community engagement programme running alongside the restoration of Tynemouth Station, the artists Gaynor Devaney and Dave Hull-Denholm were commissioned to produce a temporary public art work on construction site hoardings on the station concourse.
The theme is "A journey to anywhere in the world can begin at Tynemouth Station", and the artists have developed this idea through workshops with local schools to produce two delightful artworks.
One hoarding has an international flavour; the other is inspired by the local area, following site visits by the schools. The hoardings will remain in place until early next year.
Around 50 pupils from three North Tyneside schools – Priory Primary School, King Edward’s Primary School and Cullercoats Primary School – joined in the art project, providing colourful images of ships, iconic landmarks and even an aeroplane decked out with a Metro logo.
A second work of art is taking shape in the Bridge Gallery space above the railway lines. Transitions by Kimberley Gaiger is constructed from thousands of Metro tickets and new ‘Pop’ smartcards.
The art projects form part of a series of cultural events themed around the restoration of the historic station building’s canopies.
Work is progressing well on a year-long project to replace the many panes of glass, and repair ironwork while additional work will create a performance area on the platform underneath to increase the station's use as a cultural visitor attraction.
The rescue response was co-ordinated by a stakeholder group, led by North Tyneside Council which secured £1.9m of government funding through the 'Sea Change' programme.
Additional funding from North Tyneside Council, English Heritage and Nexus has secured the £3.68m project, which has the support of Station Developments Ltd, the owners the station, who have also contributed to the refurbishment fund.
Nexus, despite owning and managing Metro, does not own Tynemouth station, apart from the platform fronts. It is keen to play a part in the conversation.