GEMS

GEMS was a diverse range of arts projects in the Country Durham based local authorities of Sedgefield, Teesdale and Wear Valley and County Durham.

Good for the Soul

Client: Teesdale and Wear Valley District Councils

Good for the Soul (GFTS) is an arts and mental health project that was established by Teesdale District Council and Wear Valley District Council. It forms part of the Dales Healthy Living Centre CHOICE Programme, which was designed to encourage healthier living in Teesdale and Wear Valley.

The key objectives of GFTS are to develop and provide arts projects for people in the Durham Dales who were at risk of mild to moderate mental ill-health. GFTS works with a range of health-care and other professionals in order to promote the opportunities for participation through a series of media including photography, textiles, ceramics and mixed media.

Spennymoor Mural Project

Client: Sedgefield Borough Council
Artist: Frances Connolly

Frances Connolly worked with young people who live or go to school in
Spennymoor. They drew and painted images that related to the town through the four seasons and produced a bold, colourful mural which is situated in the John Kitson Archway, Spennymoor, County Durham.

Elevation

Client: Sedgefield Borough Council
Writer: David Napthine
Venues: Sunderland, Carlisle, Kendal

Performed on indoor climbing walls the story is told through text, music, visual imagery (including film and photography). The writer describes the work as 'the stunning choreography of rock climbing. Four stories weave together to reveal the obligation, obsession, egotism, risk and madness that is within us all but is most sharply focused when you're god knows how high up with only a rope between you and oblivion. This is the story of people at extremes when they are most human.'

Light Engine

The Fourth Project in GEMS, this was a major public art commission for the new National Railway Museum at Shildon.

The commission process was started within the GEMS contract and then extended beyond directly with the NRM, York.

Details of this project are contained in a separate section under Light Engine.