Next Stop Byker Phase 1

Byker Metro Station

Next Stop Byker: Phase 1

Next Stop Byker was a series of four temporary works installed in Byker Metro station between November 2005 and June 2006. The site is inside the entrance concourse of Byker Metro station; measures 11 metres x 3 metres;  and is used to display digital images printed on adhesive vinyl. Next Stop Byker was led by Newcastle City Council in partnership with Nexus and received support from Arts Council England, North East. Next Stop Byker was so successful that it has continued to be used as a site for temporary installations.

The first four temporary art installations were created by four local community groups, who began working with artists Debbie Akam, John Craggs, Meera George and Andy McDermott to create art about where they live. The works were photographed and reproduced as printed images for the huge 11 metres x 3 metres site.
The first installation was by artist Debbie Akam with help from residents with special learning needs from Byker Bridge Housing Association. It was a digital collage of photographs of Byker taken from a fresh perspective and was displayed during November and December 2005.



The second work, displayed during January and February 2006, was in graffiti style by John Craggs, working with the ladies from the East End Community Health Project. Most of the group were of a mixed age group in their 60s, 70s and 80s. The East End Health Project was established in 1982 and aims to improve the health of local people by promoting healthy eating, exercise and education and by developing a range of sustainable initiatives to address local problems. It supports a number of number of initiatives to tackle health inequalities in the East End. The Women's Art Group aims for its members to experience art in a supportive and relaxed environment. None of the women had picked up a spray can before and overcame their initial nerves to embrace a medium more often associated with young people.



The residents of Margaret Collins House sheltered accommodation in Byker
worked with artist Meera George to use photographs about their lives to create
a massive montage for the site during March and April 2006.

Whereas the women behind the previous piece of graffiti art at the Metro
station learnt how to use a spray can, these participants helped to
create digital art. The residents initially got together to look through their albums, sharing
their memories and selecting photographs that meant a lot to them.

The participants were all residents of Margaret Collins House, council-owned
sheltered accommodation managed by Your Homes Newcastle, on Welbeck Road in
Byker. They enjoyed the project so much that they now have their own digital
camera to record outings and activities and to download images to their
computer.

Young people got wired up to where they live by making artworks from recycled wire for the final phase of the project.

The youngsters from Byker YMCA project worked with their project staff and visual artist Andy McDermott to transform a tangle of old cable and wire into delicate and individual pieces of art.  A photograph of their work was displayed during May and June 2006.

The young artists looked around where they lived and found inspiration in the variety of trees, bushes and flowers in their neighbourhood.  Starting by looking and drawing, each created their own unique artwork by twisting, plaiting and scrunching wire and cable into trees, flowers, insects and abstract shapes. 

The group brought their art together to create a collaborative piece around the symbols of the tree and heart, chosen to represent networks that exist in their area.  There are over 50 individual pieces that together are both engaging and dramatic. The wire came from local scrap yards and included a diverse and colourful array of copper, tin, aluminium and electrical wire, as well as computer and telephone cable.