Arts organisation The NewBridge Project, based in Shieldfield, Newcastle, has been awarded ‘Gallery of Sanctuary’ status. This is a status given to galleries and other arts organisations who actively support asylum seekers, refugees and others with lived experience of forced migration.
NewBridge, a unique and important creative space for local communities and artists, is one of only three galleries in the North East to be recognised for this national award, given by the City of Sanctuary network.
Commitment to asylum seekers
One of the main reasons for the award was the level of commitment towards asylum seekers shown by the NewBridge Project.
A City of Sanctuary spokesman commented: “The commitment that the NewBridge Project has made to welcoming people with lived experience of seeking sanctuary is phenomenal. We can’t wait to see more of the work to come.”
Honoured to be recognised
It is also clear that NewBridge Project are really happy to have been honoured in this way.
Rebecca Huggan, Director of The NewBridge Project commented:
“We’re delighted to have been recognised for the work we do to create a welcoming and inclusive space here at NewBridge,
“Shieldfield is an amazing place, and since relocating here, we’ve co-created a range of programmes in response to people’s needs and interests. This includes our much-loved Coffee Mornings, Saturday Socials, Memory Cafe and our Shieldfield Youth Programme, where people come to meet others, make friends, take part in creative activities and learn new skills.
We celebrate the many cultures that shape and strengthen our community, with recent events for Eid al-Fitr, Enkutatash and Ethiopian Gena. Alongside our local partners, we will keep creating inclusive opportunities and programmes with our communities – the friends and neighbours who are making Shieldfield a great place to live and work.
A genuine community resource
NewBridge Project also emphasises that they are a resource for the local community in Shieldfield to use.
Frances Stacey, Programme Director at The NewBridge Project added: “We want NewBridge to be a genuine community resource, working in partnership with local people and organisations to support Shieldfield as a flourishing, intercultural neighbourhood. Our work is rooted to the belief that art can create space to experiment, play, to gather, listen and build solidarity”.
Looking to the future
Despite gaining this award, NewBridge Project are not resting on their laurels and are very much looking to the future and what they can achieve next.
Dan Goodman, the newly appointed Communities Producer at the NewBridge Project noted that, “NewBridge has worked hard to achieve Gallery of Sanctuary status. I’m incredibly proud to be part of the organisation, especially with Refugee Week in June, and I’m looking forward to building on these successes alongside our neighbours and with the support and expertise of the Gallery of Sanctuary network”
Meanwhile Kaltouma Hassaballah, local artist, chef and one of NewBridge’s Communities Facilitators, explained: “We must fight against the loneliness and isolation experienced by women who now call Shieldfield their home. We must celebrate our unique cultures, share experiences and empower the next generation to be proud.”
The NewBridge Project team is looking forward to celebrating alongside their communities during Refugee Week (15-21 June) at their Monday Coffee Morning; and at a dance party led by and for migrant women in our area as part of our new exhibition Abundance.
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