30 September 2024 | Photo: Toby Lloyd
The exhibition’s exclusive opening party will take place at Newcastle Contemporary Art (NCA) Gallery One this Friday
Big Beat Manifesto has returned to Newcastle Contemporary Art (NCA) once again with their second collaborative exhibition, Sounds of the North East. Known for capturing the vibrant pulse of Newcastle’s nightlife, this edition pivots its focus to the economic and political challenges facing the region’s creative community. The exhibition, launched on September 26, will be closing with an immersive event that promises to transform the gallery space into a microcosm of the city’s nightlife.
Building on the success of their first exhibition titled An Appreciation for the North East, which celebrated the joy and energy of youth culture, Sounds of the North East aims to highlight the struggles that artists and event organisers face in sustaining this dynamic scene. With local and central government support dwindling, the exhibition seeks to underscore the value of the North East’s creative sector and its resilience in the face of adversity.
Curated as part of the Succession of Repetitive Beats programme, the exhibition features a diverse range of works from a broad spectrum of visual artists, photographers, videographers, and musicians—making it the largest grassroots collaboration that the region has ever witnessed. By presenting both emerging and established talents, the exhibition offers a snapshot of the different facets that make up Newcastle’s nightlife ecosystem, from underground collectives to burgeoning labels and community-driven initiatives.
The party on October 4 will see the gallery morph into a nightclub, with performances by some of Newcastle’s best local collectives. Powered by a state-of-the-art HiFi sound system, the event will pay homage to the city’s thriving dance music scene, adding a lively soundtrack to the visual journey on display.
The exhibition features works by Adam Reich, 3flavours, Young Villain, Leo Merryfield, Jacob Weston, Aaron Wyld, Charlie Mason, Izzy Gibson Smith, Anya Clayton, Holly Ziegler, Feliz Ziegler, Jordan Taylor, Megan Williams, Intra, Frederick Newton, Daria Vynohradova, Sandra Muzykant, FTC.ARCHIVES* and Conrad Whale.
The lineup includes acts from Shy Bairns, Music Sphere, Profound Sound, Granville Collective, Interstellar Strut as well as Big Beat Manifesto Residents, along with special guests Molly Sinnott, Penzik and Burns. Plus, Big Fat Rave will be showcasing and selling their merchandise at the party.
Conrad Whale, the organiser, is enthusiastic about what this unique collaboration represents: “I'm so excited to bring together some of the most talented artists and musicians working in the North East, for a first of its kind event in Newcastle. I’ve only been able to make this happen because the nightlife community in Newcastle is so welcoming and everyone who I've reached out to has been so excited to get involved. I want to build this into a platform to continually support and help artists to grow. I've curated a selection of work by a mix of artists from all different backgrounds to highlight how amazing the music and creative scene is in the North East.”
Discover details of the initial exhibition, An Appreciation for the North East, here, or get your tickets for the upcoming Sounds of the North East launch party here.
