Artists Starting a Wave in Sunniside

Visitors to an historic part of Sunderland city centre will be given a cinematic experience with a difference when artists and businesses join forces later this month.

Paul Brooks, Lis Molzahn and Sally Schoon of Sunderland-based Art-Wave have been working with artists from across the area to produce short films based on the theme of regeneration. The screening, which is called On Screen In Street, will be projected onto the windows of shops and café bars in Sunniside on Thursday January 31 and Friday February 1.

Supported by /sLab (Sunderland Digital Media Research Lab), the University of Sunderland Fine Art and Design and Sunniside Partnership, the aim of the project is to create links between art and businesses.

Sunniside is currently part of a £130m regeneration scheme, which will transform the area into a thriving cultural quarter. The transition has proved a huge draw for local artists, who will soon be able to take advantage of the new £6m arts and business centre thePlace, which opens this summer.

On Screen In Street involves businesses ranging from café bars to charities, a picture framer to offices. The event will showcase work by art graduates, local artist groups and professional fine artists and designers.

Keith Weaver, of The Picture Framers, said “It is very satisfying to support this project as we have known for a long time now that there is a wealth of talent in and around Sunderland. Artists need a platform to show their work. Anything and anywhere that brings normally unseen work to a public arena will only endorse and promote Sunderland as a cultural city.”

Ben Hall, director of Sunniside Partnership said: “One of our main objectives through the regeneration of Sunniside is to retain the talent we already have in the city.

“Projects such as this provide a fantastic opportunity for up and coming as well as established artists to display their work and open it up to the public.”