Bringing the Tyne Derwent Way to you - in a box!
Deadline for applications extended: applications still welcome
A new creative project, bringing together neurodiverse young people and professional artists, will get underway in January.
Tyne Derwent Way in a Box was one of the engagement projects that community groups across Gateshead talked about last winter as part of 'PicknMix'.
Lucy Zwolinska, who leads on community engagement, said: "PicknMix involved us asking community groups to vote on which community engagement activities they'd like to happen on the Tyne Derwent Way last winter. Over 100 people who live, work or volunteer in Gateshead across 13 different community groups, voted, and Tyne Derwent Way in a Box came in the top three!"
The project was described as:
"This project will invite neurodivergent young people to visit the Tyne Derwent Way themselves and create the Tyne Derwent Way 'in a box'. The box will be full of sensory items and stories that they can then show people living in their community who can't physically visit the rivers."
And that's exactly what it will be! We've joined forces with Creative Heritage Studios as the lead creative producer, who are making it happen - read on to find out what it will look like and how you can get involved.
Join Tyne Derwent Way in a Box!
Are you between the ages of 14 and 19, love being creative, a natural problem solver and want to be involved in a creative project? Then this opportunity is for you! Along with Creative Heritage Studios, we have curated a series of workshops for a group of neurodiverse young people to attend.
Work with professional artists to create sensory boxes about the nature along Gateshead's riversides. These fun and informal sessions are full of creativity opportunities to learn new skills.
Find out more and apply (opens new window)
Sessions:
All sessions are in Gateshead Central Library except on Saturday 25 January, which is at the Forest School site in Gateshead Riverside Park, near Teams.
| Saturday 18 January | Introductory session |
| Saturday 25 January | Nature's Quest |
| Saturday 1 February | Scents of Place |
| Saturday 8 February | Wild Herbs |
| Saturday 15 February | Sight and Light |
| Saturday 1 March | Sounds of Discovery |
| Saturday 8 March | Sensory box handover |
What will you get out of the sessions?
- access to professional artists and local organisations
- enjoy learning new creative skills
- meet like-minded people in an inclusive space
- build your creative network
- have your voice heard
- build your creative CV
What will be happening at each session?
Tyne Derwent Way in a Box is an intergenerational project, in which neurodivergent young people will create sensory boxes about the Tyne Derwent Way. We want you to create the items that are added to the boxes.
You will have the chance to work with professional artists and organisations to explore the five senses through these sessions. These fun and informal sessions are full of creativity, and you will learn some new skills too. Here are the details for each session:
Nature's Quest
Our event will take place on Saturday 25 January. We will meet at Gateshead Riverside Park, NE8 2LS, to begin our journey.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to connect with nature with your guide, Kirstie from Through the Trees CiC.
Come prepared with comfortable shoes, a sense of adventure, and a curiosity for the natural world. We can't wait to see you there! Make sure you dress appropriately as this is an outdoor session.
Scents of Place
Welcome to Scents of Place - a sensory journey through the power of scents! Join us on Saturday 1 February at Gateshead Central Library (Headworks) for a unique hands-on crafting experience that will transport you to different locations through the sense of smell. Discover how scents can evoke memories and emotions, and learn about the importance of scent in creating a sense of place. Immerse yourself in a world of fragrances and explore the connection between scent and memory.
During this relaxed session, you will be working with Caroline from Bernicia Candles, who has a wealth of experience creating scents for her locally themed products. She will teach you how she combines different scents to remind you of the northeast coastline, countryside and other locations. As a group, you will design an exclusive scent for the Tyne Derwent Way box.
Wild Herbs of Tyne Derwent Way
This inclusive interactive session will be brought to you by The Herb Hub. The Herb Hub is a community-based project that explores the medicinal benefits of natural herbs.
The five herbs that will be cultivated through Herb Hub's Community Programme are German chamomile, rosemary, peppermint, lemon balm and European sage.
These have been selected for their benefits on mood and memory and to target health conditions associated with our collective post-pandemic stress, such as increased agitation, anxiety, low mood, disrupted sleep and increased stress.
As well as exploring herbs you will have a chance to create some artwork for some recipe cards that will be included in the sensory box. You will also learn how to make a winter tincture (to help fight off winter colds and coughs), in the session in February, which you can then take home.
Sight and Light
Experience the magic of sight and light through this interactive workshop with professional cyanotype artist Jo Howell.
Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to explore the beauty and science behind cyanotype imagery. You will be using your found objects from the Tyne Derwent way to create beautiful cyanotype artwork.
Mark your calendars and get ready for a morning of enlightenment at Sight and Light!
Sounds of Discovery
Welcome to Sounds of Discovery!
Come join us at Gateshead Central Library on Saturday 1 March at 10am for a morning of sound exploration. This event is all about discovering new sounds that can be made with found objects from the Tyne Derwent Way.
You will work with professional artist Bethan Laker to explore how different objects make unique sounds. You will also help assemble sound bottles to be included in the Tyne Derwent Way sensory box.
Share this page
