Latest news with #NinaValkhoff
BBC News
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
North Shields giant artworks spark 'amazingly positive' reaction
Two giant murals created as part of a town's 800th anniversary celebrations have had a positive impact, the art festival's organisers are the first of a total of eight large-scale works on blank walls on locations around North Shields, in North Tyneside, over the by Elevation, they are part of a festival marking its history from a small village of simple huts - or shiels - into a thriving harbour completed two have sparked hundreds of likes on social media with comments being "overwhelmingly positive". Dutch artist Nina Valkhoff, who created the first mural in the town centre, said people had often stopped to watch her at work and had been "very encouraging".The second, by street artist KMG and based on a river god, covers the side of a large building on the Fish on the third is due to start on Monday. Stuart Fern from Elevation said there had been hundreds of comments on social media, which had been overwhelmingly said: "The feedback has been amazing, I know these things are often quite divisive but this has been so positive."It's had a huge impact, I've even heard about tourists from Portugal and Sweden commenting.""They are really stunning, and will still be there in 10 or 15 years time - their legacy will last." The artworks are part of the North Shields 800 celebrations, marking the emergence of the town from a small village on the bank of the River Tyne to serve Tynemouth Priory into a thriving harbour Tyneside Council has now announced that a £132,160 grant had been awarded to the Linskill and North Tyneside Community Development Trust which would manage the funds on behalf of North Shields would be used to support 10 projects to safeguard the town's maritime, industrial, railway and arts heritage. Follow BBC Newcastle on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Murals will 'transform North Shields into open-air gallery'
Murals are set to transform a town into an open-air gallery, an art festival's organisers large-scale artworks are being created on blank walls at locations around North Shields in North Tyneside, including its Fish Quay, over the will have the chance to watch the six street artists in action during July and August as part of the Elevation Mural say it will turn "everyday spaces into landmarks of creativity and connection". The festival is part of the town's 800th anniversary funded by the North East Combined Authority, it is being led by local arts charity, Matt Wilson said: "We've been really heartened by the warm response to our plans."Local people have a sense that this will be another big boost for the North Shields."It promises to be a bold and beautiful reminder of North Shields' unique heritage and its growing reputation as a hub for creativity and culture." One of the artists taking part in the project, Prefab77, was raised in the town, while another, Nina Valkhoff, is travelling from the Netherlands to paint. Kirsty Ferguson said she was thrilled that one of the murals would adorn the gable end of her Edwardian home."Although the mural will be on my house, it's for everyone - I'm just the host", she said."It will bring a new vibrancy to the area and bring the local community together." Follow BBC Newcastle on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
