NE1's Newcastle's Christmas Windows Unveiled
NE1’s Newcastle’s Christmas windows are being unveiled across the city this week showcasing the creative talents of the North East from artists, design agencies, local schools, budding illustrators, and creatives, bringing some extra festive cheer into the heart of the city throughout December.
NE1 was delighted to bring back this new Christmas tradition, which was launched for the first time last year and was so warmly received by the public.
This year, 31 Christmas windows will be decorated and on display at 7 venues across the city for the duration of the Christmas festivities. In total, 17 bespoke pieces of art have been created and installed across the windows, chosen from winning designs from NE1’s Christmas Windows competition, launched at the beginning of November, as well as commissioned pieces from NE1’s creative design agency, Different Narrative, and Allies Group, the company behind NE1’s fortnightly magazine, as well as other designers, illustrators, and local schools.
Three winners were chosen by NE1 from public entries. Kathryn Ann Gibson’s work will be proudly displayed at STACK on New Bridge Street, the other two public competition winners will have their work exhibited on Market Street, Kate An-Maclean’s entry on the windows of the old Co-Op Building while Emilie de Black’s work will dress a window of TM Lewin.
Four winners were chosen from student submissions, from Northumbria and Newcastle Universities. Francesco Bendini, studying fine art at Newcastle University will have his art displayed at the Gate, alongside Amber Bruzzi, a Northumbria University winner. Another winner, Northumbria Uni student Daniela Dimitrova’s ‘Christmas Bucket list’ will be displayed at Thomson House in the Groat Market, with fellow Northumbria student, Bogomila Uzunova’s work on show at Santander on Northumberland Road.
West Denton Primary School will also have their entry on display at Thomson House.
Information on all the windows, their designers and locations can be found at www.NewcastlesChristmas.com
The festive artwork in windows across the city creates a free Christmas artwork trail for people to enjoy, outside and at their leisure. People are being encouraged to find them all, photograph themselves in front of the artwork and use the #NewcastlesWindows hashtag on social media.
Ben Whitfield, Head of Marketing and Events at NE1 said:
“Our Newcastle’s Christmas Windows were such a successful addition to NE1’s Christmas activities last year that we were determined to bring them back this year. We are always amazed by the wealth of creative talent in the North East and love the added festive cheer the windows bring to the city. It is a great way of putting a smile on people’s faces, as well as showing off some of the region’s finest artistic talent, from universities to creatives, members of the public, and the businesses we work with daily.
“Our brief was kept deliberately open, ‘make it Christmassy’, and the designers have let their imagination and creativity do the rest! We want to see people out enjoying the windows, so encourage people to tag us in their photos using the hashtag – NewcastlesWindows.”
Newcastle Christmas Windows can be followed at the following locations;
STACK – New Bridge Street
Davidson’s Jewellers - Grey Street and Shakespeare Street
Co-Op - Market Street
TM Lewin – Market Street
The Gate
Thomson House - Groat Market
Santander - Northumberland Road
