Waygood is Changing -
Press Release
Press Briefing/photo/interview opportunity:
10.30am Wednesday 27 February 2008
Little Jewel Cinema, Newcastle
Waygood to begin multi-million pound capital redevelopment on High Bridge, Newcastle
Waygood and Newcastle City Council have appointed Rok Building Limited as the developers of the gallery and studios on High Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Work will begin on 17 March 2008 to create artists' studios, public galleries, a learning centre, a café bar and club and offices on the site, which consists of two distinct buildings; a Grade II listed shop front and a characterful six storey warehouse to the rear.
Helen Smith, Director of Waygood Gallery & Studios said:
“Waygood will become a city centre cultural venue accessible to everybody. It will become a place for engaging with and making contemporary art, with exhibitions which will surprise and challenge and a learning centre programme delivered by a genuine community of artists.”
The project will be the first time that Austrian-based architects Christian Jabornegg and András Pálffy, will work in the UK. The pair has an international reputation for gallery and studio design, including the Generali Foundation in Vienna, Documenta X in Kassel, Germany and Museum Judenplatz in Vienna, Austria.
“The project underlines the existing structure of the historical building with precise interventions. A new top-lit gallery box on the roof offers large exhibition spaces and opens up unexpected views onto the city skyline.
“The increased number of studios and the café bar transforms the refurbishment of Waygood into an attractive and accessible public place in the centre of Newcastle”
The redevelopment of Waygood will create:
- New Galleries which will offer an exciting programme of art exhibitions, residencies and live events.
- Artists' Studios will provide creative facilities, including fully accessible studios for a community of studio and associate artists.
- The Learning Centre will offer artist led learning and workshops linked to the programme and will include The Sir James Knott Trust Library & Archive.
- Café, Bar and Club will bring new, relaxed, alternative venue to the centre of Newcastle and will include an outdoor café courtyard and rooftop terrace.
- Waygood Art Boutique will offer the opportunity to buy art and affordable artist made gifts and will open from Easter 2008.
- First floor office and workspace will be available to let for businesses and organisations.
Waygood's capital redevelopment has been funded by both national and regional funding sources including TyneWear Partnership via Single Programme Funding from ONE North East, lottery arts funding through Arts Council England, part financed by the European Regional Development Fund, Newcastle City Council, Northern Rock Foundation, The Sir James Knott Trust and The Barbour Trust.
Waygood have appointed a highly respected design team with a strong mix of international and regional experience, drawing from the public & private sectors.
Project Manager John Jones of JPM Consultants has more than 20 years experience in managing regeneration projects in the public and private sectors, including Tyne & Wear Development Corporation's ambitious programme; Bede's World, and Seven Stories: The Centre for Children's Books.
Access consultant, David Burdus will ensure that the new building will be accessible to all.
Waygood's office and studios are currently based in the Harker's Building in Byker. It's public art projects includes the Harker Herald billboard, outside its temporary home on Shields Road, with a billboard poster by a different artist each month.
The Little Jewel Cinema on High Bridge is a peephole cinema screening artists films and videos in an former shop front at 31 High Bridge, which will eventually become the café bar. Waygood has just published a book with artists Ben Jean Houghton and Matthew Giraudeau, who are currently screening work in the Little Jewel Cinema.
WYGD online is a series of internet art projects including WYGD Slow TV, artist's animated photographs from the photo-sharing site of www.flickr.com screened in the window of 31 High Bridge, will be launched on Thursday 28 February as part of AV Festival 08: Broadcast and will run throughout 2008.
Waygood Associates is currently an online discussion group of artists and others interested in Waygood.
Waygood's Radio Club for Artists will join other local amateur radio clubs in a Radio Rally in Newcastle's Grainger Market on Friday 29 February and Saturday 1 March as part of AV Festival 08.
Waygood Art Boutique will open on 30th April 2008 as a place to buy affordable art and gifts, and as an information office on Waygood's redevelopment and on-going programme.
An animation of Waygood's redevelopment can be seen via www.waygood.org/redevelopment or on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkDUPVC_b2M.
A guide to the redevelopment can be requested by emailing: or ring 0191 265 6857.
Media Contact: Cait Read
07811 320447
Images & Guide downloadable: www.waygood.org/redevelopment
Animation can be seen via website www.waygood.org and youtube
Background information on Waygood
Established in 1995, the Newcastle upon Tyne based Waygood Gallery and Studios has become one of the UK's leading artist-led contemporary visual arts venues.
It provides studio facilities and support for artists and engages audiences with contemporary art through its exhibition programme.
Waygood shows new work by artists who adopt a critical position on contemporary life. The programme includes contemporary visual arts, live art, music and publishing.
Waygood's vision is to become a place for making and engaging with contemporary art and to develop its position as a key player on the international contemporary arts scene.
When Waygood began, there were three studios and a small gallery in a vacant space on one floor of the Ward's building in central Newcastle.
By 1997 the number of studios had grown to eight and by the end of 2004 there were eighteen, accommodating thirty artists. It currently has 53 studio artists and 160 associate artists.
Waygood Studios are currently based in Byker, whilst the redevelopment work commences on the High Bridge.