Connecting and creating!

Our two-year intergenerational arts project – BayCreate, which nurtured positive connections between people of all ages at Whitley Bay Big Local and The Base Young People’s Centre came to an end in January 2023.

Everything achieved in the project was inspired by and shaped by the people involved. At the beginning of 2021 we selected our first two artists – Jason Eason and Sofia Fox Barton - to work with us to produce artwork inspired by the coast and what it means to us. In 2021 Jason and Sofia ran art sessions on a Wednesday afternoon at WBBL and on a Thursday evening at The BASE which have been well attended by people of all ages.

In  2022  two new resident BayCreate artists Pui Lee and Mark Crowley. were selected. Over  three months, Pui and Mark inspired us to create artwork that expresses what is important to us and encouraging positive wellbeing and connections with each other along the way.

In 2022 Whitley Bay Big Local adopted the K4 telephone box, located outside Whitley Bay Metro Station with the aim to restore the telephone box.  BayCreate participants create fused glass pieces for the phone box supported and inspired by community artist, Jason Eason as well as engaging in special workshops with glass artist Helen Grierson and ceramics teacher Michael Cunliffe

Discovering our connection to the sea with Jason Eason

Jason’s sessions have explored the art of photography and storytelling with a focus on capturing and creating a meaningful picture that expresses our relationship with the coast. Group members have done activities such as mixed media collage, water colour painting, flower pressing, charcoal sketching and have also ventured outside to take photographs of our beautiful surroundings - all the while exploring themes such as nature and conservation which are so important to the groups. The work lead by Jason will culminate in a large mixed media collage that will showcase all the artwork completed so far arranged in a coastally inspired scene that highlights what is important to the participants about our local area. 

Exploring nature with Sofia Fox Barton

 Sofia's work has focussed on developing the group’s interest, understanding and skill in constructing Mandalas and how the infinity and impermenance that they embody relate to the group's feelings about the ocean being endangered and the need to conserve and appreciate nature to secure the wonders of our coast for future generations. Sofia’s work with the group has explored the use of re-cycled materials and natural inks to produce shapes for the mandala. She has also inspired people to experiment making mandalas with a range of materials such as leaves berries and twigs. The group are working towards producing a range of mandalas to explore different themes such as community, conservation, and nature. It has been a privilege and a pleasure to see how the group members have invested their time and energy into developing the concept of the artwork and it will be exciting indeed to see the finished community pieces very soon!

Having fun!..

 Sofia's work has focussed on developing the group’s interest, understanding and skill in constructing Mandalas and how the infinity and impermenance that they embody relate to the group's feelings about the ocean being endangered and the need to conserve and appreciate nature to secure the wonders of our coast for future generations. Sofia’s work with the group has explored the use of re-cycled materials and natural inks to produce shapes for the mandala. She has also inspired people to experiment making mandalas with a range of materials such as leaves berries and twigs. The group are working towards producing a range of mandalas to explore different themes such as community, conservation, and nature. It has been a privilege and a pleasure to see how the group members have invested their time and energy into developing the concept of the artwork.

Helen Grierson ran four fused glass workshops at her studio in Northumberland  advising the group about different techniques, such as using paint to enhance the glass work. Participants cut, shaped and placed pieces of coloured glass and frit to create their representation of the coast and what means a lot to them

BayCreate  was funded by Spirit of 2012, the fund was designed and managed by Spirit of 2012’s Youth Advisory Panel. BayCreate stood out to the panel for its detailed knowledge of Whitley Bay, exciting local partnerships and creative vision.