Newcastle Festival Celebrates Industrial Heritage Through Artistic Expression

Newcastle‘s manufacturing legacy is poised to receive a spotlight during the city’s highly anticipated cultural festival, New Annual. This event, widely recognized for its blend of creativity and engagement, presents an opportunity for both locals and visitors to delve into and re-imagine the industrial history that defines the city.

This year’s festival is set to feature ‘Morphology,’ an initiative hosted at the Soap Factory fabrication workshop. Spearheaded by furniture designers Jonathan Everett of Everett Creative and Hannah Cheetham from Built In-Kind, the project will run workshops from 27 September to 3 October. Participants are encouraged to immerse themselves in the process of crafting a large sculptural piece made entirely from waste furniture.

The workshops will provide community members with hands-on experience in using tools and joinery techniques. As part of this collaborative effort, participants are invited to bring in old or broken furniture, transforming these pieces into a unified sculptural artwork during the final stages of the festival.

The completed sculpture will be installed in Wheeler Place, marking the culmination of the event from 4 to 6 October. Speaking about the project, Hannah Cheetham remarked, “Participants will disassemble and reassemble old furnishings, creating a collective artwork that not only exhibits creativity but retains a historical essence.” The piece will incorporate personal stories, thoughts, and designs, becoming a testament to the community’s imagination and craftsmanship.

Jonathan Everett, who has an extensive background in furniture production and design, joins Cheetham in this creative endeavor, promising an installation that explores the theme of ‘memory’ through design simplicity and artistic expression. Everett has previously engaged with high-profile projects, including commissions for the Prime Minister’s suite in Parliament House.

With her architectural expertise, Hannah Cheetham emphasizes sustainable design solutions. Her work through Built In-Kind aims to bridge the gap between social and environmental challenges, promoting creativity within the framework of community development. Her workshops aim to empower diverse groups, with a focus on women in fabrication fields, through partnerships with various organizations.

The New Annual festival itself runs from 27 September to 6 October, offering a diverse lineup that includes dance, music, circus, visual art, and theatre alongside Morphology’s innovative artistic exploration.