College News

Westbrook Villas Art Project and Heritage Trail

For the past five months, students on the Art Foundation course at QE have been working on a major collaborative Arts Project with the residents of Westbrook Villas, Northgate and the Head of Steam Railway Museum. The aim of the project was to enhance the historic site by installing a series of art works that celebrate links to the development of the railways.

The Westbrook Residents’ Association, with the support of local groups, historians and the Railway Museum, secured a grant of £6,396 from the County Durham Fair Share Trust which supports local causes. This enabled the project to go ahead and led to the Association’s partnership with Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College’s Art Department.

 The Westbrook Villas’ Art Project was an exciting new challenge for the students whose brief was to create images that reflect the history of the street and its strong links with the railways, especially the Stockton to Darlington Railway. Following intensive research, the students  presented a diverse range of creative ideas, all of’ which will be on the Westbrook Villas’ website; seventeen students will have work permanently installed at Westbrook Villas and the rest of the group will display work inside the Railway Museum in a temporary exhibition.

 Rita Smith, Director of Creative Arts at QE, said:

“This was a major, very worthwhile project. We were inspired by the energy and enthusiasm of the Westbrook Residents’ Association who are passionate about the historic area in which they live and who really want to preserve and share the historic links it has with the railways. The students have gained some important experience in working with real clients on a community project of a significant scale.”

 Opening Event: Thursday 28^th February at 12.30 pm – meet outside 8A Westbrook Villas. Christopher Lloyd, Deputy Editor of the Northern Echo, and Tim Fisher, Principal of Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, will open the event. View art work and walk to the Head of Steam Railway Museum to see further art work and enjoy refreshments. 2.00 pm – Heritage Walk and talk by Shirley King.