Residents’ stories wanted for town centre light projection
Memories and photos will form the artwork at Appetite's Newcastle Under Light event
Newcastle-under-Lyme residents are invited to share their memories and photographs of the town at two drop-in sessions this weekend, to help create a unique light projection as part of the Light Up Winter series presented by Appetite.
The artwork will be unveiled at Newcastle Under Light on Wednesday, 4 March, from 6pm to 9pm.
The community drop-in sessions will take place on Saturday, 7 February at Belong Village from 9.30am to 11.30am and at Newcastle Library from 12.30pm to 3.30pm. They will be led by artists leo&hyde, who will use residents’ photographs and stories about the town to create the projection in collaboration with 2099 Studios.
Residents will be able to share their stories with writer Leo Mercer and artist Joseph Doubtfire, and try a range of digital and collage art-making techniques. The resulting artwork will be projected onto the Guildhall as part of the Newcastle Under Light event.
As well as attending the drop-in sessions, people can also submit voice notes for the project. Contributions can be light-hearted, serious, reflective or spontaneous.
Voice notes should ideally be between 30 and 60 seconds long, although submissions of up to two minutes are welcome. Contributors are encouraged to mention a place in the town and speak as if sending a quick voice message to a friend.
Leo Mercer, from leo&hyde, said: “I love voice notes, and how people have started to leave messages to loved ones and friends. It’s so lovely to hear someone’s actual voice from wherever they are.
“For that reason, we’re very excited to hear your voice notes from Newcastle-under-Lyme. These will then make their way into a shared artwork on the Guildhall, celebrating the voices of the people who know Newcastle-under-Lyme best.”
Participants may choose to respond to one of the following prompts, or simply share their own thoughts:
• Something interesting that happened in Newcastle-under-Lyme recently, and where it happened
• A surprising conversation with a stranger in town
• A family story or long-standing connection to Newcastle-under-Lyme
• A favourite place in the town and a memory linked to it
• Finish the sentence: “My favourite thing about Newcastle-under-Lyme is…”
• Finish the sentence: “My biggest hope for Newcastle-under-Lyme is…”
Charl Pearce, Manager of Newcastle Under Light co-hosts Newcastle BID, said: “Newcastle Under Light is about celebrating the town and the people who make it what it is. This project gives residents a chance to see their own stories, memories and voices become part of a striking town centre moment, and we’d love as many people as possible to get involved.”
Appetite Interim Director Heather Dowler added: “At Appetite, we love creating experiences that bring people together. This project is about listening to local voices and transforming everyday stories into something special that can be shared with the whole town.”
Newcastle Under Light is the final event in Appetite’s three-part Light Up Winter series and is free to attend, with no booking required.
The event will also feature a sound and light pagoda exploring breath and breathing together, and giant inflatable creatures that respond to hugs and squeezes. Refreshments will be available to purchase. British Sign Language tours will be available and must be pre-booked by contacting askus@appetite.org.uk
Voice notes can be sent via WhatsApp on 07766 720625 or by email to hello@nulbid.co.uk . To confirm consent for use in the artwork, contributors should include the words: “Yes, you can use this in the Newcastle-under-Lyme projection.”
Light Up Winter is funded by the National Lottery through Arts Council England’s Creative People and Places programme, with additional support from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, Denise Coates Foundation and Middleport Matters. The series is delivered in partnership with Middleport Matters, Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID, Newcastle-under-Lyme BID and Stoke Creates.