Appetite are so excited to present Newcastle Common; a new programme focused on the changing Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre and transforming empty shops into places of art and creativity!
Running over the next three years, we are pleased to kick Newcastle Common off with two brand new artists-in-residence: Holly Johnson and Ian Mood. Our artists-in-residence will be creating brand new artwork inspired by Newcastle-under-Lyme today and its vibrant history. They will be looking for inspiration from Newcastle residents and sharing updates of their work on our social media in the run up to the opening of the first Newcastle Common shop.
Learn more about them and their plans:
Holly Johnson
Holly is a local hatmaker, trading under the name Hojo Hattery. Holly’s residency will be focused on the history of hat making in Newcastle-under-Lyme, inspired by the memories and photographs shared by residents. In the final week of her residency, Holly will demonstrate the hat making process live from an empty shop whilst sharing the memories and stories shared by audience member.
Learn more about Holly here.
Ian Mood
Ian is a contemporary artist with an international reputation and works full time from his studio in Burslem. Ian will be out and about in Newcastle with his sketchbook scribbling away while you shop, before setting up studio in our shopfront producing a new body of large paintings and sketches documenting the places and faces that make Newcastle such a special place to live.
Learn more about Ian here.
Newcastle Common will sit alongside our other projects in development for the same period in Newcastle-under-Lyme: The Newcastle Map by Chloe Breeze Illustration; Familiar Faces by Adina Lawrence in partnership with GRAIN; and Every Other Seat with Dust Rising.
Appetite is an Arts Council England-funded Creative People and Places programme, led by New Vic Theatre in partnership with Partners in Creative Learning, 6Towns Radio, Staffordshire University, Newcastle BID (Business Improvement District), Keele University and Go Kidsgrove.
