Art For Peace by Alison Lochhead

The poignant and thoughtful Art for Peace collection by Alison Lochhead will be expanding from Keele University into our Newcastle Common space.

We invite you to Newcastle Common from Saturday 21 May to Saturday 25 June to see Alison Lochhead’s Art for Peace collection, a reflection on the memories of conflict and the impact of war on the planet.

The collection of work consists of cast iron shoes, burnt books and columns of rubble and memories along with some paintings. They tell a story of conflict and migration as well as the destruction of culture and histories.

The work responds to wars and conflicts happening as she paints and sculpts and explores the aftermath of war and conflict; the bombed out buildings; the lives which people have to continue to try and live within the rubble; the waiting in limbo in camps; the hope for safety and refuge; usually to be dashed after horrendous, exploitative and dangerous journeys.

You can see the collection at our Newcastle Common High Street space and Newcastle Common Astley Walk space on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 11am to 3pm. Try your hand at sculpture making and painting with our artist-in-residence Semaan Khawan. Find out more here.

Why not make a day of it and combine your visit with a trip up to Keele University to see a large selection of Alison’s Art for Peace paintings in Chancellor’s Gallery and Chapter’s Cafe exhibition spaces. Find out more here

The work is a reflection on the repetition and memories of conflict and war.

Why do we continue to think we can solve our differences through violence and conflict?

Why do we keep not learning from our past?

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Back to the Barracks at Newcastle Common

View the ‘Back to the Barracks’ exhibition at our Newcastle Common High Street space until Saturday 14 May. Celebrate this marvellous piece of Newcastle-under-Lyme history and the Back to the Barracks project, which has supported the restoration and installation of priority windows to safeguard the future of the Barracks.

Stop by Tuesday 10, Wednesday 11, Thursday 12, Friday 13 and Saturday 14 May from 11am to 3pm.

Join us on Saturday 14 May for the Back to the Barracks Celebration Day! Come along to celebrate the Back to the Barracks project and enjoy a day of FREE activities!

• Hear the Town Cryer welcome you to the event at 12pm
• Live performance of original songs, written about the Barracks and its history, by Average Joe at 12.30pm
• Join Letting in the Light and use photography to create a cartoon of yourself which will be projected on to an old image of the Barracks
• Help Rachel Ballard to make paper plant pots and sow herbs and flowers that were growing around the Barracks when it was built in 1854
• Collect your limited-edition Barracks Lucky Bag containing original artworks and temporary tattoos by Kyle Cartlidge and Shiv Mcaleer
• Take a stroll to the Barracks with Francesca Wheeler and Chloe Rickett look at the heritage of the town from the perspective of the trees.

Learn more about the Barracks Trust Charity here.

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Celebrate Castle at Brampton Park & Museum

Looking for a ‘royally’ fun day out for all the family? Appetite and The Brampton Museum have ‘joust’ the ticket!

Join us for the medieval themed Celebrate Castle! Take part in our FREE family event on Saturday 28 May as novice knights and playful peasants return to take over the land. With performances, dancing, music and workshops, head along to be entertained by our colourful characters and even have a go yourself.

Drop-by the Brampton Park and Brampton Museum from 10.30am to 4pm for a day packed of jest and joy!

To find out more about activity and performances happening on the day click here.

Information on access and transport can be found here.

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The Common Curiosities Exhibition at Newcastle Common

You shared your everyday objects and your amazing stories of Newcastle-under-Lyme, now see them in The Depository of the Dull exhibition!

We will be showcasing the objects that have been loaned by people in the borough of Newcastle and sharing their stories. Come along and enjoy this celebration of life in Newcastle, told by the people of the borough!

Drop-in to our exhibition Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from Saturday 30 April to Saturday 14 May from 11am to 3pm.

Find out more about our Community Curator and the Depository of the Dull here.

Listen to our Depository of the Dull podcast below:

Podcast produced by Jerome Whittingham

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Green Town at Newcastle Common

Taking an optimistic look at how the climate crisis might shape the future of our town centres throughout April in our Newcastle Common space.

The big issue of climate collapse becomes local with Green Town, which looks at the role of our town centre in saving the environment. From the impact of food wasted by supermarket chains to the carbon cost of demolishing buildings that could be repurposed, we’ve brought together artists, writers, performers, and thinkers who invite you to look again at Newcastle-under-Lyme’s streets, shops, and public spaces, and to decide whether you’re part of the problem or part of the solution.

Green Town runs across our shops in our High Street and Astley Walk Newcastle Common spaces, with some activities taking place outside those spaces from Thursday 7 April to the end of the month. Both spaces will be open to the public Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10am to 3pm. We’ll be adding extra talks, workshops, and demonstrations through the month so watch our social media and shop window for updates!

Information on access and transport for Green Town can be found here.

Take a look at our programme:

Green Town Exhibition

Where? 23 High Street, Newcastle (near St Giles’ Church, opposite Art of Siam restaurant)

When? Thurs 7 to Sat 30 April

In this exhibition, we look at some of the big issues and how they apply to our town centre, and we invite you to take action – big and small – for a better future. Alongside simple activities and artwork, our Green Town exhibition also includes a reading room of books and texts to get you feeling inspired!

Jon Paul Green: Text Works

Where? 23 High Street, Newcastle (near St Giles’ Church, opposite Art of Siam restaurant)

When? Thurs 7 to Sat 30 April

In a series of new paintings, artist Jon Paul Green makes work about climate change, inspired by the words used by climate activists on protest banners. Alongside the paintings, there will be a important quote created with gravel in the shop window, and text pieces (using environmentally friendly chalk) will appear around Newcastle-under-Lyme subways inspired by climate chance protest placards. See if you can spot them in the town!

WILD | LIFE The Pat Callaghan Collection

Where? Astley Walk, Newcastle (On the corner of Lad’s Lane and opposite The Bull’s Head Pub)

When? Thurs 7 to Sat 30 April

In this installation, artist Danny Callaghan shares the work of environmental campaigner Pat Callaghan, who passed away in 2018. Pat was known as a journalist and was involved in creating green spaces in Staffordshire. The exhibition invites us to think about ways we can become activists and campaigners like Pat.

There will also be a series of talks and meetups connecting Pat’s work to today’s activists in the area. Upcoming talks including:

The Green Diagnosis Van

Where? 23 High Street, Newcastle (near St Giles’ Church, opposite Art of Siam restaurant)

When? Thurs 7 to Sat 30 April

An interactive and fun performance offering green prescriptions for health and political engagement. Be assessed by the team, and directed to positive solutions to the crisis we are collectively facing via climate awareness groups locally and nationally.

There is also a pledge tree created by Francesca and Chloe, within the High Street space, for you to write your pledge to help combat climate change and attach!

Listen to the audio description of this activity here.

No.72 Takes Over

Where? 23 High Street, Newcastle (near St Giles’ Church, opposite Art of Siam restaurant)

When? Friday 29 and Saturday 30 April

Join No.72 for activities based around food waste and cooking together include Betty Buffer’s Night In, when we’ll be shown how to make the most of food that might otherwise go to waste, and the Little School of Improbable Cooking  when some unlikely chefs will invite families and children to work with them on some fantastical challenges as they create a magical meal together.

Be part of the takeover! Here are some of the activities we have planned:

Why has an Arts Company Opened a Bakery?

When? Friday 29 April 11am to 12pm

A short talk by B arts’ Artistic Director and Co-founder Susan Clarke followed by a Q and A session. Open to all!

Betty Cooks Rubbish

When? Friday 29 April 1pm to 2pm

A cookery demo with tastings with Betty Buffer where Betty make the most of a bag of supermarket surplus food with recipes to take home, also live on social media (captioned). Open to all!

Greening Stoke

When? Friday 29 April 3pm to 4pm

A presentation and surgery to help you get started with community growing. Led by Greening Stoke, who are based at 72. As part of the Soil Association’s Plant and Share Month.

Little School

When? Saturday 30 April 10am to 12pm

B arts famous improbable cooks come to Newcastle and tackle the climate crisis using only food and poetry.

This is a free, ticketed event. Book your tickets here

Little School Drop-in

When? 1pm to 4pm

Come and see us for creative workshops making poetry, food, zines, badges, placards making our commitment to tackle the climate crisis.

More details on all the artists and activities featured in this programme can be found here.

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Maps in March at Newcastle Common

We are working with talented illustrators to create maps for Newcastle-Under-Lyme town centre!

These maps will build on our original town centre map created by Chloe Breeze and explore the specific themes of nature, independent businesses, markets, food and drink outlets and feeling safe within the town centre.

Our High Street space will have reproduction large scale ordinance survey maps on display, provided by The Brampton Museum and Art Gallery, as well as some imagery of locations and businesses within the town centre across the decades relating to the themes of our new maps.

We want to create new town centre maps that:

• Create a sense of place by using buildings, landmarks and other notable information about the town centre.
• Create a connection for readers of the map to get a sense of what is available on each street or locations in the map.
• Create a clear, beautiful and exciting connection to the businesses, sense of place and add to the visitor experience.

We’re keen to get those who use the town centre to engage with our wonderful Illustrators and potentially contribute to the maps they will be creating throughout March. Call in to Newcastle Common at 23 High Street, Newcastle, ST5 1QZ on Wednesdays and Saturdays during March!

Our Illustrators will be available to chat plus you can see the various historical maps and imagery from 11am to 3pm on the following dates:

Wednesday 9 March

Saturday 12 March

Wednesday 16 March

Saturday 19 March

Wednesday 23 March

Saturday 26 March

Wednesday 30 March

Introducing our Illustrators

Su Hurrell

Artist & Garden Maker

Newcastle-under-Lyme – the clue is in the name – Newcastle is the settlement under the ancient Lyme Forest which once covered parts of Cheshire, Staffordshire and Derbyshire. Newcastle town centre is blessed with a variety of trees, making it a green and pleasant place to visit.

My take on the town centre map will draw inspiration from trees and shrubs, looking at identifying their species, Latin names, etymology, uses, medicinal properties, myths, even local stories or legends about them. These will be combined into cartographic illustrations celebrating trees in the town centre, telling the story of trees in Newcastle-under-Lyme through the year. For example, did you know that heather (Calluna vulgaris) is the Borough’s flower?

The map’s purpose is to value the trees and shrubs in our townscape, as well as individual specimens, and share some of the fascinating stories about their lives.

Chloe Breeze

More info coming soon

Kidda Kinsey 

More info coming soon

Becki Kremer

I am a visual artist and illustrator, using bold patterns, digital animation, striking colours, kitsch characters, and textile work to bring my ideas and imagination to life.

I love working with thought-provoking themes that involve body positivity, individuality, and representation. My signature style is heavily influenced by my Caribbean heritage and often uses very bright colour combinations to express a message of empowerment and optimism. My digital artwork is primarily produced using photoshop and inspiration that I find in my day-to-day life.

My diverse practice also includes designing and painting large-scale wall murals, theatre performance, graphic design, and acrylic-painted canvases.

Scruffy Little Herbert 

More info coming soon 

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