Appeal launched to save North Shields 800 artwork panels

Our community is asked to help secure a long-term home for Conrad Milne’s landmark anniversary artwork.

Seven large-scale artwork panels created to mark North Shields’ 800-year anniversary are now seeking a permanent public home.

The panels, designed by local visual artist Conrad Milne, were commissioned as part of the North Shields 800 celebrations and have previously been displayed at North Shields Central Library, The Three Tanners Bank, and The Beacon Centre.

With those exhibition periods now concluded, organisers are appealing for a local venue to step forward to ensure the work remains on public display.

A landmark cultural commission

Titled North Shields: 800 Years in the Making, the collection comprises seven digitally layered aluminium panels that reimagine the town’s history through photography, illustration, poetry and archival material.

Rather than presenting a strict chronological timeline, the panels radiate outward from a central image of the Pow Burn — the waterway that helped establish North Shields as a safe harbour in the 13th century. From that focal point, centuries of industry, maritime heritage, folklore and everyday life unfold in interconnected visual fragments.

The work incorporates contributions from photographer Hazel Plater, poet Dean Jolly and genealogist David Scholey, creating what has been described as a tapestry-like exploration of North Shields’ identity.

Why a permanent home matters

Public art commissions created to celebrate civic milestones are typically intended for long-term community benefit.

Across the UK, cultural bodies and local authorities recognise the importance of maintaining visibility and accessibility for publicly exhibited artworks, ensuring they do not disappear once anniversary events conclude.

The NS800 panels were created not as temporary decoration, but as a lasting visual record of the town’s layered story.

Ensuring they remain on display would preserve an important part of the anniversary legacy — particularly as North Shields looks ahead to future cultural ambitions, including its Town of Culture 2028 bid.

Call for local venues

Organisers are now inviting expressions of interest from:

• Local businesses
• Community organisations
• Public buildings
• Educational institutions
• Cultural and arts venues

The panels are large-format aluminium works suitable for indoor public-facing spaces such as foyers, reception areas, community hubs or galleries.

Those able to provide either a permanent or long-term display location are encouraged to come forward.

Keeping North Shields’s story visible

As the anniversary year draws to a close, the appeal highlights a broader question about legacy — how creative projects commissioned to celebrate local identity continue to serve the community beyond their initial showcase.

Providing a home for the NS800 panels would ensure that North Shields’ eight centuries of history remain visible, accessible and part of the town’s everyday landscape.

Organisations interested in hosting the panels can contact the team via I Love North Shields to discuss next steps at hello@ilovenorthshields.com.

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