PRESS RELEASE

15 May 2017

DUNDAS SHOPPING CENTRE NAMED AS ONE OF THE MAIN LOCATIONS FOR MIDDLESBROUGH'S FIRST ART WEEKENDER 19- 21 May

 Dundas Shopping Centre and Indoor Market is to be one of the main locations for Middlesbrough's first public art weekender from Friday 19th to Sunday 21^st May.

 Based on and around Albert Road, the Middlesbrough Art Weekender will make the town centre come alive with performers, pop-up gallery spaces, exhibitions and workshops at more than 40 venues ranging from Teesside University and Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (mima) to local shops and businesses.

 Dundas Shopping Centre and Indoor Market will provide one of three project spaces in the town and exhibit the work of four artists from, or based in the North East, as part of the Art Trail planned for the town that weekend. Visitors can cast a vote for their favourite artwork in the exhibition space, with the winner receiving a prize of £300, sponsored by Leinster Property Services of Yarm Lane, Stockton on Tees.

 In the project space North East artist collective Shy Bairns will work with artists and visitors to produce works about the region. Artists involved will work in a range of mediums, including illustration, collage and textiles. Their aim is to interact with the public as much as possible to make a collaborative creative space. The work produced will then be edited and printed live by one of the team members. On Sunday the publication will be finalized and launched, showcasing the work and giving the public an opportunity to receive a copy.

 The artists showing their work in the Dundas Centre are Ross Cummings, Linda Stannard, Katie Tomlinson and Abbey Ollet. Emerging artist Wolfgang Bittner (Berlin) will also be showing his light installation, ‘Circular Shift.'

Organised by artist and curator, Paul Stewart, and Liam Slevin and Anna Byrne from Stockton-based art project space The Auxiliary, the Art Weekender will feature the work of 150 artists, bringing art out of galleries to the people of Teesside. It aims to highlight Middlesbrough as an important location for artist production and new practices.

 "As a community oriented shopping centre, we are delighted to host a project space for the Weekender and to be a part of the public Art Trail, showcasing and celebrating the region's artistic talent. We hope that all our visitors will get involved either in the project space, or in voting for their favourite works in the Art Trail," says Dundas Market Manager David Harris.

 Supported by the Arts Council of England as well as Middlesbrough Council, mima and Teesside University, Middlesbrough Art Weekender launches at mima on Friday May 19 at 6pm and will run over the weekend from 10am until 6pm.

 Further information is available from www.middlesbroughartweekender.com, the facebook page MiddlesbroughArtWeekender, or via email info@middlesbroughartweekender.com

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