SIDEQUEST, a creative arts organisation, has marked the special occasion by lining up two major new projects that underline its commitment to bringing bold, ambitious, local creativity to communities across Hartlepool, Teesside and beyond.
The two new projects are – a new commission from MIMA and Borderlands for the Turner Prize Community Programme and the launch of SIDESHOW, a new live art event bringing experimental performance to Hartlepool.
A spokesperson said: “The Turner-on-Tees project will see SIDEQUEST transform a converted horsebox into a travelling artist’s studio with the help from Hartlepool’s Artistic Solutions, taking creative activity directly to communities across the Tees Valley to celebrate the country’s biggest art prize coming to the Tees Valley.”
“The SIDEQUEST Horsebox will travel into community settings, public events and neighbourhoods from October until March, delivering accessible, artist-led creative workshops and creating opportunities for people to experience and participate in creative activity in the place they live. “
The project forms part of the Turner Prize Community Programme, helping connect the wider Turner Prize activity with communities across Teesside.
The second new project is SIDESHOW – a live art experience which is set to transform Trying HQ skatepark into a playground for Hartlepool’s creative underground. SIDEQUEST has invited some of its “sickest mates” from across Hartlepool for a night of live art, music, drag, spoken word, burlesque, art-making and more!
The spokesperson added: “SIDESHOW is part-performance, part-party, part-gig and part-creative experiment, bringing together artists and audiences for a night where disciplines collide, artists can take risks and you are introduced to your new favourite night out and will feature local acts who’ve gone on to forge creative careers both here and further afield, including Celia Grace, Beatnik and Mama Rhi.”
“It’s hard to believe SIDEQUEST is already one,” said SIDEQUEST Director Aaron Bowman, “This first year has been about proving that brilliant, ambitious creative work can come from Hartlepool and Teesside, and that it can happen in places and with people who are often overlooked. If our first year has taught us anything it is that there’s an enormous appetite for exciting projects like The SIDEQUEST Horsebox and SIDESHOW. We’re only just getting started. We’ve fundraised close to £150,000 in our first year of operation across our programme
of work and we couldn’t be more pleased to see art in all its forms thriving in Hartlepool once again”
SIDESHOW takes place on Friday 25th September, 7pm – 11pm at Tryin’ HQ, 28 Avenue Rd, Hartlepool TS24 8AT.
Tickets are available at sidequestwastaken.com
