Garden shed in Sunderland's Blandford Street to be used as artists' grotto

Where's your shed at - Christmas shoppers are being invited to get creative with an unusual arts scheme.
Claire Todd (right) and Jess Browne at the Culture Shed in Blandford StreetClaire Todd (right) and Jess Browne at the Culture Shed in Blandford Street
Claire Todd (right) and Jess Browne at the Culture Shed in Blandford Street

A humble garden shed has been installed in Blandford Street in Sunderland city centre where it will be hosting pop-up arts workshops.

The Culture Shed opens its doors today, November 29, and will be holding painting and poetry sessions until December 23.

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The scheme, which is being curated by former University of Sunderland graduate Vincent R Todd and financed by the city’s Business Improvement District, working in partnership with Sunderland Culture through their Great Place scheme, will also give shoppers and families the opportunity to make their own artistic contribution.

Related contentIt was announced today that Sunderland Bid has secured a second term.The grotto has a blackboard on one outside wall which passers-by can use to draw or write a message and another wall which is to be used for “Christmas graffiti”.

Vincent, a former curator in residence at Mackie’s Corner during The Tall Ships Races earlier this year, believes the project will be something unique. “It’s a very different slant on a traditional grotto and a great way to get people involved in the arts who might not want to go to a more traditional venues,” he said.

“We’ve got some very different artists who are going to be there every Thursday to Sunday so hopefully people will become regular visitors to see all the different things that are going on.”

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Among those taking part is poet Ian Horn who will be writing poems on a typewriter in the shed and handing them out to the public, as well as painters Jessica Browne and Jayne Parker Johnson.

Sharon Appleby, head of business operations at Sunderland BID, said: “At the busiest time of year it’s fantastic to be able to give artists an opportunity to showcase their skills and to bring something unique into the city centre, which everyone can participate in. We hope people will take the trouble to head to Blandford Street to see everything that’s going on and also join in.”

The project is also supported by Sunderland Culture as part of their Great Place scheme. Helen Ross, Producer at Sunderland Culture, said: “We’re excited to be working with Vincent Todd and the BID on the Culture Shed project. Our aim is to use creativity to attract more people into one of the city centre’s main shopping streets.

“The Culture Shed will be an ‘artist’s grotto’ providing space for artists to work, run workshops or create performances. It will be a talking point, a source of curiosity that will draw people into Blandford Street.

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“This commission forms part of our Unlock Sunderland Cultural Spark project, in which we’re working with Sunderland’s Heritage Action Zone to bring underused spaces back to life though creativity and culture.”

The Great Place programme is jointly funded by the National Lottery through Arts Council England (ACE) and Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to put arts and culture at the heart of local communities.