Public Art Commission

The commission is open to individual artists and collaborative teams, who are encouraged to share roles and responsibilities to best support the project’s delivery. The commission will include community engagement with young people, developed collaboratively during the project, that informs the final artwork to be painted on the surrounding shutters and walls that enhances the area and celebrates Byker’s distinctive character.

Key Objectives:

• Engage community in the design and creation of the artwork.
• Prevent further unwelcome graffiti and improve appearance of building facades/shutters.
• Create an imaginative piece of artwork(s) that help create a sense of pride in the area.

The Site:

Addison Road is a pedestrianised street intersecting Shields Road, bordered by buildings to the east and west. The western edge features a brick building housing a solicitors office (accessed from Addison Road) and an African food market (accessed from Shields Road). Both businesses use metal shutters that are frequently covered in graffiti, as are the surrounding brick walls. On the eastern side stands a stone building with column detailing, adding architectural character. It contains a convenience store accessed from Shields Road. Its windows are boarded up and a small shutter near the northern end is also regularly tagged with graffiti. A tree and low level planting occupy the centre of the space.