This weekend will see Stockton turn into a spectacle of colour and creativity as Stockton BID brings The BIG Art Festival to town.
The free visual arts event will see 50 artists from across the Tees Valley taking part, with an art trail of commissioned murals, live demonstrations and creative workshops.
For art and design students from Stockton Riverside College, the highlight will no doubt be seeing the culmination of their creative ideas showcased in a community mural by illustrator and mural artist, Nocciola The Drawer, otherwise known as Hazel Oakes.
The college’s art and design course leader, Liz Dixon, explained: “The students were given the chance to work with Hazel on the design and creation of one of the murals.
“With Hazel delivering two workshops at the college, this was an incredible opportunity for our learners to work with a professional full-time artist, offer their input and, hopefully, be inspired by her enthusiasm.”
Asked to consider what inspires and motivates them, those ideas were brought together to ultimately help shape Hazel's final design.
Four students, Lil, Maya, Tamzin and Emma, were invited to help put the finishing touches to the community mural which will be displayed in Stockton’s Green Dragon Yard.
Art and design student Lil said: “It was incredible the way the artist meshed our ideas together into the finished piece. To see it completed felt like we had accomplished something. To know that will be seen by the public, and that we played a part, is an unreal feeling.”
For the 18-year-old from Hardwick it was a chance to try something completely different and embrace a new style.
Building confidence and teamwork skills, she said: “It has been such a unique experience and something I never thought would be possible.”
Also lending a creative hand, Maya, 17, of Wynyard, said: “It was fun to work with an artist on something that will be open to the public.”
Never having worked on a mural before, Maya added: “It was a good experience and something totally different.”
The first festival of its kind in Stockton, The BIG Arts Festival director, Harriet Mee, said: “We want to show that art is all around us and to celebrate visual artists in the area. We want to make art as accessible as possible for all and for people to experience the wonderful talent of these contemporary artists and to inspire and empower communities.”
Stockton BID manager, Jason Maxwell, added: “It is well documented that art is a powerful way to promote wellbeing and creativity and build connections and we have already seen many people in the town positively engaging with the artist during the installation period in public spaces.”
This weekend artworks will be exhibited in The ARC Arts Centre with workshops in The Georgian Theatre and the Creative Village and live demonstrations in the Green Dragon Yard and ARC. For full details and times visit: https://thebigartfestival.co.uk
