Bringing Poetry and Art to the Streets of North Shields
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Date: 29 September 2025
Poems on Walls: Bringing Poetry and Art to the Streets of North Shields
North Shields is set to see poetry take centre stage in a new public art project, Poems on Walls, funded by North Tyneside Council and delivered as part of the North Shields 800 community programme, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The project will transform four blank walls across the town into striking displays that celebrate the creativity, history, and culture of the local community.
Led by Dr Richard O’Brien, Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at Northumbria University and Director of the Institute of Humanities, in partnership with I Love North Shields, the project will pair local poetry with bold visual artwork designed and installed by artist Stanis GrazBrock, with the support of community volunteers. The initiative has been awarded £1,000, which covers fees for the use of poets’ work, the artist’s time, and the materials used to deliver the project.
Over the last year, I Love North Shields has published poetry in every issue of its printed magazine, showcasing local writers and celebrating Shields’ heritage in print. Poems on Walls will now take that creativity beyond the page and into the public realm, turning everyday spaces into living canvases.
Each wall will feature selected lines of poetry from the I Love North Shields archives, celebrating themes of place, identity, and history. Volunteers from the community will be invited to support with preparation, materials, and documenting the work, making this a truly collaborative effort.
Originally planned to launch in October to coincide with National Poetry Day, the project will now begin in November 2025 to allow for planning and coordination.
Dr Richard O’Brien said:
> “This project is about taking poetry off the page and into the everyday lives of people in North Shields. By working with local writers, artists, and volunteers, Poems on Walls will showcase the creative spirit of the town while building on the fantastic public art legacy of projects like Elevation. It’s about making creativity part of the public realm and making our streets a little more beautiful.”
Artist Stanis GrazBrock added:
> “I’m really excited to work on Poems on Walls and help make poetry part of the fabric of North Shields. The chance to collaborate with the community and transform overlooked spaces into places of creativity is an inspiring opportunity.”
The Poems on Walls project forms part of the wider North Shields 800 celebrations, a year-long programme of heritage, arts, and community events funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, marking 800 years of North Shields’ history and identity.
For more information, updates, and volunteer opportunities, visit: www.ilovenorthshields.com
