Calls for people of South Tyneside to create 'In this Together' artwork for huge banner on Customs House

The Customs House is asking artists with ties to the area to fill a six-metre-high (18ft) banner to be hung from the Mill Dam building.

The project entitled ‘In this Together’ is open to anyone living in or from South Tyneside.

Organisers at the South Shields arts and entertainment venue explain that submissions can be in any style, but that the piece must somehow represent ‘What Togetherness Means to You’.

The chosen piece of art will be displayed for three months, between March and July, for all in the town to see.

The shortlisted entries will be available to view in an online gallery, while the final decision on the chosen design will be decided by a public vote through the venue’s social media channels.

“We’re so excited to see the entries that come forward,” the Customs House’s executive director, Ray Spencer, said.

“Our building banner is often used to advertise shows and at Christmas we decided to use photographs of our patrons to wish everyone a merry Christmas, we’re now going a step further and fully handing over the space to the people of South Tyneside to show their creative flair.

“We know this last year has meant we’ve had to stay apart from our loved ones, our schools and workplaces and the places we love, like The Customs House.

"We want to celebrate what it means to be ‘together’ in 2021 and we have the perfect space, splashed right across the front of our building, to display the work.”

The venue is requesting all artwork be submitted digitally and in portrait specification (610mm [high] x 480mm [wide]).

Submissions should be sent to [email protected] by 5pm on February 22, with ‘Togetherness’ and the artist’s name in the email’s subject line.

Mr Spencer added: “This is an opportunity for people to share what togetherness means to them.

"Does it mean a hug from a loved one? A virtual get together with friends and family? Sitting together in your favourite theatre? A feeling of belonging? Or does it mean something else entirely?

“This opportunity is open to everyone in South Tyneside, regardless of age or experience.”

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