Wanted: YOUR stories for town centre light projection

We are partnering up with Newcastle-under-Lyme BID and Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council to bring you Newcastle Under Light, part of Appetite’s ✨ Light Up Winter ✨ series. Featuring immersive artworks, projections and interactive installations, the Light Up Winter series will transform familiar spaces into glowing, playful places to explore after dark.

And we want YOU to be part of the art in Newcastle!

We’re calling on residents in Newcastle-under-Lyme and the surrounding areas to come along to a workshop to help artists leo&hyde develop a truly unique light projection. The projection, which will be a celebration of the town made by and for the people who live there or have a connection to the area, will be projected onto the front of The Guildhall during our Newcastle Under Light event on Wednesday 4 March.

How can I be involved?

Do you have photographs and memories from Newcastle over the years?

Do you have a story from the past or an idea of the future of Newcastle?

If so, leo&hyde would like you to be the inspiration for the projection. You can share anything that you want to say, light-hearted or serious, reflective or spontaneous. Or choose one of these prompts to kick-start your 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…”

Would you like to try your hand at a range of digital and collage art making techniques?

Get creative at the drop-in sessions and see your art beamed onto The Guildhall on the 4th!

How to take part

In person leo&hyde will be in town to scoop up your thoughts.

Saturday 7 February
9.30-11.30am at Belong Village
12.30-3.30pm at Newcastle Library
No need to book, just drop by and say hello!

By voice note

Ideally 30-60 seconds, but messages up to 2 minutes are welcome
Be informal, as if you’re sending a quick message to a friend
You’re encouraged to mention a place in the town
Submit via WhatsApp to 07766 720625 or via email to hello@nulbid.co.uk
Please give your consent for your message to be used by including the words: “Yes, you can use this in the Newcastle-under-Lyme projection.”

We’ve got some brilliant memories of Newcastle town centre as you can see in these photos of past events from Andrew Billington and Jenny Harper. What about you?