A R C A I) I.
- ‘rg. ‘
lk of the Tyne
NewcastleGateshead is the Toon’s new official title, but its promoters claim that the new moniker heralds a fresh cultural era for the city. Rachael Street finds out what’s changing.
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NEWCASTLEGATESHEAD CULTURAL FACT FILE The culturaIrebatesanoe~ of islittle short of astonishing
from Antony Gormley‘s ‘Angel of the North’ and the Baltic Centre for Eontemporary Art (balticmillcom), there’s the Sage Centre (thesagegatesheadorg).
Also check out brilliant local art group. Locus+ iaocusplusorguk).
The game ft Two great A_cu|tura| that's new history big on African of the creatures eateries pancake PAGE 102 PAGE” PAGEIOO
hat are the first things that spring to mind w lien you think about Newcastlc(iatcshcad'.’ Boo/y nights out‘.’ Football tanaticism'.’ Brown .-\lc'.’ \Vliatcy er images you have. it is perhaps unlikely that cutting edge yisual an. classical music or country house escapism ligure that highly on the list. But with its recent inycstiiient in artistic endeayour of all kinds. Newcastle(iatesliead is making quite a stir on the cultural map. Spencer 'l‘unick‘s current esliibition
at the Baltic contemporary art centre is a prime esample ol'
this. The New York-born anist recently managed to persuade I700 people to shed their clothes in the middle oi the city for his latest installation work. His large-scale photos ol these temporary naturalists - walking across the (lateshead Millennium Bridge. lying on the Quayside and posed in l'i'ont ot' the Sage v— bring together the public and prixatc iii a unique way. But his decision to use Newcastle(iateshead is surely an indicator of‘ its growing recognition in the arts world.
especially since Tunick‘s
previous human installations
have taken place in such
established destinations as
Barcelona. Montreal and
INSTITUTIONS
city‘s newest cultural
institutions stand out as
iconic landmarks as well as
centres ot~ creativity. making
them the perfect backdrop
l‘orTunick’s project. AS
CENTRES OF
marries the main historical
city of Newcastle with its
more industrial neighbour
(iateshead. to create one diverse city. The new composite
name doesn’t slip off the tongue quite as easily as Buda l’esi
(the title it was modelled on) but the concept ol‘ bringing
interestingly it is (Iateshead. on the north side oi the riyer. that
is home to most ot‘ the city's recent innoyations. such as the
Baltic. the Sage concert hall. the Millennium Bridge and the
symbolic Angel of. the North. These attractions may as yet be
only a fringe on what is still a lairly run-down area. ithc
disused car park made famous in the lilm (in ('uru'r is ()ur cultural tour began with a walk around the ancient city
of Newcastle: its elegant Central Arcade. the sandstone-lined
Grey Street. the castle from which the city takes its name and
Blackl‘riars. a former Dominican monastery. Iimerging onto
the Quayside. we headed immediately for the majestic Baltic.
where a couple of hours slipped away easily as we wandered
Melbourne. This shouldn‘t really be a surprise: the Dissected by the Riyer Tyne. NewcastleUateshead contrasting areas together in one label is the same. Of course. the bias of attention on central Newcastle still exists. but prominent on the skyline). but there is little doubt that further gentrification will follow their lead. through its airy galleries. A lip—smacking lunch at (‘al‘l‘e Bar 1"; Petr-2 Ma' 27/. THE LIST 97