Travel through time on the Tyne with our new creative resources

Travelling Through Tyne has officially launched!

This new set of 6 resources is designed to be used in group settings to imagine bold and hopeful futures for communities along the Tyne Derwent Way.

The resources are now available to download or you can pick up a copy from the Staiths Space (or if neither of those options work for you, drop us an email and we'll get a copy to you).

Travelling Through Tyne was created by Dingy Butterflies CIC, with artist Chris Folwell and theatre-maker Liv Hunt. It was inspired by the work of Justine Boussard's Amateur Ancestors project as well as borrowing techniques from environmental activist and writer Rob Hopkins to imagine new futures. We really encourage you to check it out and think about running a session wherever you are - with friends or family in your living room, to community events or school assemblies!

Lift-off!

To launch Travelling Through Tyne, we held an event for local community organisers, creatives and community group leaders to come together and have a go at travelling through time themselves.

It was lovely to see folk there from the community groups who helped shape the resource alongside Chris and Liv, including youth group Dunston Drop-in, The Land of Oak and Iron, Rosewood Care Home, and Arts Diamonds, an arts and wellbeing project for retired people.

Jack Burton, who is the new Heritage Engagement Officer for the Land of Oak and Iron, attended the event, and said:

"I loved it! It resonated with thoughts and feelings I've been contending with in my personal life since becoming a father four years ago. There is an indigenous American proverb that I often think about: 'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our descendants.' This resource brought that to mind, prompted me to think about the future we're borrowing from my sons' generation, and how it's easy to feel powerless in making change. But change starts with imagination, so it was really nice to see this ethos hard baked into all the resources: 'Everything around you has been imagined at some time...'.

"I like that there are six different activities. It feels like these will resonate with and be suitable for a really wide range of people. I can imagine using them in sessions with schools, community groups, older people, intergenerational groups, ESOL groups and much more. The instructions are simple and really effective, and I loved the time travelling exercise that got us all in the same headspace. I will be using the resources in my work, without a doubt."

But don't just take Jack's word for it, check out the resources yourself, and we'd love to hear from you if you do!