The
Great Exhibition of the North has begun.
If
you thought the Royal Wedding was big then you haven’t seen anything yet! The Great
Exhibition of the North launches at 1pm today, Friday 22 June – and Northumbria
University is at the heart of the action.
The
UK’s biggest cultural extravaganza this year has arrived and officially opens
today with a stunning water display on the banks of the Newcastle-Gateshead
Quayside.
The
Great Exhibition tells the
story of how the North’s innovators, businesses, artists and designers have
shaped our present, and how they are inspiring our future. Organised by the Newcastle-Gateshead
Initiative (NGI), alongside key partners such as Northumbria, the 80-day-long exhibition
will run until 9 September. Three Trails – Get Design, Get Art, and Get
Innovation – will take visitors on a spectacular journey through
Newcastle-Gateshead, packed with events, exhibitions and activities, with the
Great North Run taking place during the closing weekend.
More than 3 million people are
expected to take part in Great Exhibition activities, making it the UK’s
biggest event this year – and Northumbria has a key role throughout as an
official destination of the Get Design Trail.
The University’s programme of
events and activities for Get Design highlights Northumbria’s excellence in
diverse areas, from art, design and innovation, and healthy eating and
nutrition, to computer science and gaming, and the experiences of volunteers in
conflicts and emergencies.
“The Great Exhibition is about telling the
story of the North,” Professor Steven Kyffin, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Knowledge
Exchange) says.
“Rather than presenting our
industrial strength through the traditional industries like coal and
shipbuilding, the festival will focus on the history of ideas.
“Northumbria is telling its
story as a research-rich, professional, business-focused university with a
global reputation for academic excellence – and we definitely have a story to
tell about how we’re empowering the next generation of innovators, artists and
designers of all types and ages – as a creative, innovation engine for the
North, the UK, and the world.”
The Great Exhibition is free,
although some high-demand events need to be booked in advance. Visitors begin
their journey at one of three iconic venues – the Great North Museum, BALTIC
Centre for Contemporary Art and the Sage Gateshead – before joining three
interconnected Trails through 30 world-class venues and public spaces, on
either side of the River Tyne. The Trails have been designed to celebrate the
North’s achievements in art and culture, design, and innovation, and will
feature key locations across Newcastle and Gateshead, including Northumbria’s
City Campus on Get Design.
The University’s annual REVEAL
exhibition is at the heart of Northumbria’s Trail. REVEAL, which takes place at
the end of every academic year, showcases the outstanding talents of final year
students from a range of creative courses, including Animation, Architecture,
Interior Architecture, Fashion, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Interactive Media
Design, 3D Design, Design for Industry and Interior Design. You can find out
more about REVEAL by clicking here.
Matt Hancock, Secretary of
State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said: “The North is a hotbed of
creativity, with a proud history of innovators, businesses and artists that
have shaped how we live today. Not only will the Exhibition showcase this incredible
diversity, it will also boost tourism and deliver growth to the region. It will
celebrate what makes the North such a fantastic place to live, visit, and
invest in.”
Today’s opening event on the Quayside
will include the UK’s largest water sculpture and display, a brand new film
about the North, performances from the Kaiser Chiefs and a live presentation by
Lemn Sissay of his newly created anthem for the North. On Sunday 9 September,
the world’s largest half marathon, the Great North Run, will form the
centrepiece of the closing weekend.
The Great Exhibition of the
North is expected to bring a £184m boost to the North East, showing how
cultural investment can benefit and inspire entire communities. For the latest
information about Get North, including a full programme of events and
activities and the most up-to-date ticket details go to: www.getnorth2018.com
Northumbria is proud
to be playing a key part in the Great Exhibition of the North and staff and
students have been working hard to bring a programme of inspiring events and
exhibitions to the official Design Trail. For the full programme go to: www.northumbria.ac.uk/getnorth
The University provides a range
of award-winning courses in art, design and innovation, computer and
information sciences, architecture, health, engineering, international development
and many other areas showcased by Get North. To find out more about studying at
Northumbria come along to one of our summer Open Days on 29-30 June 2018 or
click here to find out more.
