Appetite are excited to be bringing to you Newcastle Common, a new programme focused on the changing Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre and transforming empty shops and the high street into places of art and creativity.
Newcastle Common hopes to run over several years using a number of empty shops. We’ll be exploring how they can be used and reimagining them with a programme of artist residencies, programme of activity for the public to see, experience and be inspired by, develop projects with partners such as Brampton Museum and Art Gallery, Staffordshire County Council Library and more near and further afield. We have worked with artist, writer and empty-shops expert Dan Thompson who has supported us on our journey.
Our artists and project will be looking to the residents of Newcastle for inspiration. We’ll be developing a decision-making group for the project made up of businesses and visitors of the town centre; get in touch if you’d like to be a part of it or volunteer at the space.
Progress of the artist’s work and all the projects we have going on will be shared on our social media, project page and within the Newcastle Common shops. The shops will be also have space for self-led and community projects that can use the space, so if you’re looking for a venue and need some support. We’d be interested in hearing from you.
Newcastle Common is delivered by Appetite in partnership with Newcastle Business Improvement District and is supported by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council. It is funded by the National Lottery through Arts Council England’s Creative People and Places programme.
"Wow, this is so brilliant! Really inspiring and the hats you’ve created are beautiful."
My gardening tip is; learn by experience. If I do something and it works, then brilliant! I remember it next time. If it doesn’t, then I never do that again.
Visitor to Ladybird Su's stall
Ian Mood, Newcastle Common Artist-in-Residence
