Pele Trust Schools deliver unique and dynamic arts project celebrating the cultural and industrial impact of the River Tyne
A year long project celebrating the River Tyne will culminate in an exhibition of art, music and dance on 11th – 13th July 2023 at Ponteland School and Leisure complex.
Primary school pupils from Pele Trust have been following the journey of the River Tyne using the creative arts to explore and tell its story. Our six schools have worked individually and collaboratively to deliver artwork, musical compositions and artistic performances. Pupils from Ponteland High School have supported our younger children by running workshops and mentoring fellow pupils.
The project has attracted the support of the Institute for Creative Arts Practice at Newcastle University and the School of Arts and Cultures at Newcastle University.
Dr Julia Partington of the University has led music workshops in all our primary schools and David De La Haye, a sound recordist, alongside Rob McKay, a Senior Lecturer in Composition at Newcastle University, has seen a group of children from both Primary and High Schools produce musical compositions using pond dipping with underwater microphones as inspiration.
A number of undergraduate art students have supported pupils to create their art work by planning and delivering art lessons as part of the project, and one of Newcastle University’s undergraduate students is producing work inspired by drawings of the children’s movements as they rehearse and perform.
Pele Trust’s own dance and music specialists have worked alongside a Post Graduate student from the Creative Institute for Arts Practice to create a short film of dance inspired by the River Tyne.
Dr Gayle Meikle , Senior Lecturer of Contemporary Art Curation, will be curating the final exhibition with the assistance of two interns, which on its final day will include a musical performance by Pele Trust choir and talented musicians.
The project is the brainchild of Carly Frame, teacher at Ponteland Primary School and herself a Fine Art graduate. Carly has worked closely with the University for the past 5 years during which time has seen her initiate a program to offer placements to university Art Students at Ponteland Primary, which has been expanded to offer places across all Pele Trust Primary Trust Schools.
Carly said “The exhibition will be a celebration of our pupils and our schools all of whom have worked incredibly hard on this project over the past year. The project has grown into something far greater than I could have imagined which is down to the collaborative and supportive ethos of Pele Trust. I am so proud of the efforts of all our pupils, grateful for the support of colleagues at Newcastle University and I cannot wait to see the final exhibition in July”.
The exhibition will be open in the Sports Hall at Ponteland Leisure Centre on the following dates:
Between 8.30am and 6.00pm Tuesday 11th, Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th July.
The project will culminate in musical performances from a range of children from across the Pele Trust, led by our Musical Directors Karen Wigham and Phil Rosier, and which will take place in Ponteland High School at 6pm on Thursday 13th July.
For further information please contact Mrs Lynn Blain, Deputy CEO, Pele Trust.
