[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":842},["ShallowReactive",2],{"news-change-on-our-streets":3},{"title":4,"summary":5,"primaryImage":6,"heroImage":24,"heroTagline":35,"newsTags":36,"postDate":50,"location":51,"author":52,"authorLink":53,"intro":55,"slices5":67,"presentedBy":167,"partners":171,"withRelatedNews":175,"relatedNews":176,"tags":838,"id":840,"publishedDate":841},"Change on Our Streets: reflections on Outdoor Arts UK conference ","Producer Liz Pugh, Project Manager Astarte Cara and Board member Liz Dees share their reflections on the Outdoor Arts UK conference as they launch Strategy for Joy and Belonging for the Outdoor Arts Sector.",{"dimensions":7,"alt":10,"copyright":10,"url":11,"id":12,"edit":13,"meta":17},{"width":8,"height":9},4000,3000,null,"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aaAoMsFoBIGEg2zJ_1000002395.jpg?auto=format,compress&rect=0,0,4000,3000&w=4000&h=3000","aaAoMsFoBIGEg2zJ",{"x":14,"y":14,"zoom":15,"background":16},0,1,"transparent",{"dimensions":18,"alt":10,"copyright":10,"url":21,"id":12,"edit":22},{"width":19,"height":20},1200,630,"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aaAoMsFoBIGEg2zJ_1000002395.jpg?auto=format,compress&rect=0,450,4000,2100&w=1200&h=630",{"x":14,"y":23,"zoom":15,"background":16},450,{"dimensions":25,"alt":10,"copyright":10,"url":27,"id":12,"edit":28,"portrait":30},{"width":8,"height":26},2850,"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aaAoMsFoBIGEg2zJ_1000002395.jpg?auto=format,compress&rect=0,75,4000,2850&w=4000&h=2850",{"x":14,"y":29,"zoom":15,"background":16},75,{"dimensions":31,"alt":10,"copyright":10,"url":32,"id":12,"edit":33},{"width":26,"height":8},"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aaAoMsFoBIGEg2zJ_1000002395.jpg?auto=format,compress&rect=931,0,2138,3000&w=2850&h=4000",{"x":34,"y":14,"zoom":15,"background":16},931,[],[37],{"newsTag":38},{"id":39,"type":40,"tags":41,"lang":42,"slug":43,"first_publication_date":44,"last_publication_date":44,"uid":43,"data":45,"link_type":47,"key":48,"isBroken":49},"ZICbOhAAACEAg-h0","newsTag",[],"en-gb","thoughts","2023-06-07T14:59:09+0000",{"title":46},"Thoughts","Document","5be9127d-3c6c-4161-8d83-afe0738096ce",false,"2026-02-24T00:00:00+0000","Cambridge","Liz Pugh, Liz Dees and Astarte Carter",{"link_type":54},"Any",[56,61,64],{"type":57,"text":58,"spans":59,"direction":60},"paragraph","More than 450 artists, producers, festival managers and programmers attended this national conference which included the launch of a Strategy for Joy and Belonging for the Outdoor Arts Sector. ",[],"ltr",{"type":57,"text":62,"spans":63,"direction":60},"",[],{"type":57,"text":65,"spans":66,"direction":60},"Producer Liz Pugh, Project Manager Astarte Cara and Board member Liz Dees share their reflections.  ",[],[68,109,128,149],{"variation":69,"version":70,"items":71,"primary":72,"id":107,"slice_type":108,"slice_label":10},"default","initial",[],{"heading":73,"body":74},"Liz Pugh, Creative Producer",[75,88,94,97],{"type":57,"text":76,"spans":77,"direction":60},"I loved the rallying call from the keynote speaker, Clare Farrell, founder of Extinction Rebellion, who felt that we in the outdoor arts sector are perfectly placed to challenge “the multifaceted intersectional shitshow” with the work we make. We have the tools to resist the polarising narratives of division, and the community celebrations and festivals we create will help “build a Nation of Neighbours, not an island of strangers.” Joy is not frivolous, she said, but a positive force, one which can hold the artistic and civic life of our towns and cities together. She urged us to continue to use the authority of the streets “to defibrillate the collective imagination.”",[78,82,85],{"start":79,"end":80,"type":81},178,220,"em",{"start":83,"end":84,"type":81},376,435,{"start":86,"end":87,"type":81},632,677,{"type":57,"text":89,"spans":90,"direction":60},"And good to see “Wherever You Are, Whoever You Are, The Arts Are Yours: A Strategy for Joy and Belonging” launched.  ",[91],{"start":92,"end":93,"type":81},16,105,{"type":57,"text":95,"spans":96,"direction":60},"It calls for sector development, reinforces the need to gather evidence of the impact of the work on our communities, and it keeps building the case for investment, particularly now local authority budgets are under such pressure.   ",[],{"type":57,"text":98,"spans":99,"direction":60},"It’s now available to download here  ",[100],{"start":14,"end":101,"type":102,"data":103},35,"hyperlink",{"link_type":104,"url":105,"target":106},"Web","https://outdoorartsuk.org/2026/02/launching-the-outdoor-arts-sector-strategy-for-joy-and-belonging/","_self","text_block$51327570-acda-4a20-9e99-bf2194b919b1","text_block",{"variation":69,"version":70,"items":110,"primary":111,"id":126,"slice_type":127,"slice_label":10},[],{"image":112,"caption":10},{"dimensions":113,"alt":10,"copyright":10,"url":115,"id":116,"edit":117,"portrait":119},{"width":8,"height":114},2000,"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aZ2b2cFoBIGEguFz_OutdoorArtsStrategyLaunch.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&rect=0%2C36%2C690%2C345&w=4000&h=2000","aZ2b2cFoBIGEguFz",{"x":14,"y":118,"zoom":15,"background":16},36,{"dimensions":120,"alt":10,"copyright":10,"url":121,"id":116,"edit":122},{"width":26,"height":8},"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aZ2b2cFoBIGEguFz_OutdoorArtsStrategyLaunch.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&rect=488%2C30%2C202%2C284&w=2850&h=4000",{"x":123,"y":124,"zoom":125,"background":16},488,30,1.55,"full_width_image_block$e4413b7e-09de-4bd2-9740-0ab843a25f48","full_width_image_block",{"variation":69,"version":70,"items":129,"primary":130,"id":148,"slice_type":108,"slice_label":10},[],{"heading":131,"body":132},"Liz Dees, Board Member",[133,136,139,142,145],{"type":57,"text":134,"spans":135,"direction":60},"It was warming to hear of other OAUK members that had travelled far and wide (including from Scotland, Wales and Ireland) to attend the conference. I think this shows the OAUK’s national influence and standing. ",[],{"type":57,"text":137,"spans":138,"direction":60},"We as a company very much appreciated the new format where the first whole day was set aside for artists and producers/festival organisers/bookers to connect with each other. We were able to easily talk to each other and demonstrate what we do, and the marketplace and pitching sessions were very valuable in feeling seen and heard as well as obtaining new contacts. ",[],{"type":57,"text":140,"spans":141,"direction":60},"The new sector strategy announced by OAUK is important, I feel: ensuring the sector stays focused on keeping outdoor arts at the forefront of people’s minds when making strategic planning and policy decisions. Providing a foundation for the future that reflects the diverse voices of the sector. ",[],{"type":57,"text":143,"spans":144,"direction":60},"I feel the Arts Council and big producers alike understand the importance of the outdoor arts sector in reaching people that are a), hard to reach and b), usually non-attenders of arts events. ",[],{"type":57,"text":146,"spans":147,"direction":60},"Overall, it was a valuable exercise to attend the conference as part of my plans to hand over my own company, Apus Arts, to the next generation; and as a Board member for Walk the Plank, it helps keeps me in touch with sector developments. ",[],"text_block$5aa2f727-6e0b-456a-9108-feb86db477fe",{"variation":69,"version":70,"items":150,"primary":151,"id":166,"slice_type":108,"slice_label":10},[],{"heading":152,"body":153},"Astarte Cara, Project Manager",[154,157,160,163],{"type":57,"text":155,"spans":156,"direction":60},"I had the opportunity to attend the OAUK conference for the first time, representing Walk the Plank on a national level. The conference was a fantastic opportunity to meet new colleagues from across the sector, including The Culture House in Grimsby and Levantes Dance Theatre in London. ",[],{"type":57,"text":158,"spans":159,"direction":60},"OAUK’s director Sho Shibata’s opening speech on the second day highlighted the role of Outdoor Arts at a strategic level as a sector that is culturally democratic, breaking down social barriers and serving communities that have been traditionally overlooked.  ",[],{"type":57,"text":161,"spans":162,"direction":60},"As a Project Manager currently working on Salford 100: The Wagon Train (commissioned by Salford City Council for the centenary cultural programme) I have seen first-hand how neighbourhoods in Salford can benefit from free, versatile events that bring communities together, having worked in places like Cadishead which is ranked as being more deprived than 63% of neighborhoods in the UK.  ",[],{"type":57,"text":164,"spans":165,"direction":60},"This year's Outdoor Arts UK strategy is themed around joy and belonging, which feels incredibly pertinent; and after attending the conference I have been reminded me why Walk the Plank does the work we do: to enrich lives through shared creative experiences. ",[],"text_block$38539008-63a8-436a-bcc2-1d528d09064e",[168],{"link":169,"label":10,"logo":170},{"link_type":104},{},[172],{"link":173,"label":10,"logo":174},{"link_type":54},{},true,[177,313,536,630],{"id":178,"postDate":179,"type":180,"uid":181,"author":182,"presentedBy":183,"heroTagline":187,"authorLink":191,"slices5":200,"withRelatedNews":49,"title":259,"relatedNews":260,"primaryImage":278,"summary":291,"heroImage":292,"location":303,"partners":304,"newsTags":308},"aMrczBAAACUAt2bt","2025-10-28T00:00:00+0000","news","nothing-about-us-without-us","Bev Ayre",[184],{"link":185,"label":10,"logo":186},{"link_type":104},{},[188],{"type":57,"text":189,"spans":190,"direction":60},"Having produced ten inspiring events in Ashington over ten months, Bev reflects on the challenges, collaborations and moments of magic that made the programme a success. ",[],{"id":192,"type":193,"tags":194,"lang":42,"slug":195,"first_publication_date":196,"last_publication_date":197,"uid":198,"link_type":47,"key":199,"isBroken":49},"ZKU5MhAAACAArhi-","team",[],"bev-ayre","2023-07-05T15:52:03+0000","2025-05-07T10:16:01+0000","senior-producer","22fd28e4-9df5-4ee2-a7d7-7d49cbecc5cf",[201,212,239],{"variation":69,"version":70,"items":202,"primary":203,"id":211,"slice_type":108,"slice_label":10},[],{"heading":10,"body":204},[205,208],{"type":57,"text":206,"spans":207,"direction":60},"\"Ashington stirred like never before, its streets were humming with anticipation, shopkeepers paused mid-trade, neighbours leaned out of their windows in awe of what was coming. In every conversation and curious footstep, you could feel the town itself reaching out to greet the artists who had arrived on its doorstep. From the first moment the team began the Toy Procession, they were met by warm smiles, car horns and enthusiastic waving. Local children followed on their bikes; café owners felt a sense of hope on the otherwise empty high street and community groups lined up to take part. It was as if the entire town had chosen Walk the Plank to deliver Animating Ashington, with a feeling of - “We’ve been waiting for you”.\"",[],{"type":57,"text":209,"spans":210,"direction":60},"So begins the formal evaluation written by Reemer Bailey, commissioner of an arts and cultural regeneration programme delivered by Walk the Plank on behalf of Northumberland Council and the Combined Authority. Our brief was to create a programme of events to raise awareness of forthcoming significant town centre regeneration, to drive footfall to the high street, increase spend and bring colour and excitement to the town. A town that has been systematically neglected and in decline for the past 40 years.",[],"text_block$181a9911-eb07-4387-a570-ff799b56715a",{"variation":69,"version":70,"items":213,"primary":214,"id":237,"slice_type":238,"slice_label":10},[],{"videoUrl":215,"caption":219},{"embed_url":216,"type":217,"version":218,"title":219,"author_name":220,"author_url":221,"provider_name":222,"provider_url":223,"thumbnail_url":224,"thumbnail_width":225,"thumbnail_height":226,"html":227,"is_plus":228,"account_type":229,"width":230,"height":231,"duration":232,"description":62,"thumbnail_url_with_play_button":233,"upload_date":234,"video_id":235,"uri":236},"https://vimeo.com/1130893714?fl=pl&fe=sh","video","1.0","Animating Ashington Programme","Walk the Plank","https://vimeo.com/walktheplank","Vimeo","https://vimeo.com/","https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2074719447-2257b52ac639b0f8768f875648cf76d9ac551d540513350fa9df1dad0a52777d-d_295x166?region=us",295,166,"\u003Ciframe src=\"https://player.vimeo.com/video/1130893714?app_id=122963\" width=\"426\" height=\"240\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" title=\"Animating Ashington Programme\">\u003C/iframe>","0","pro",426,240,314,"https://i.vimeocdn.com/filter/overlay?src0=https%3A%2F%2Fi.vimeocdn.com%2Fvideo%2F2074719447-2257b52ac639b0f8768f875648cf76d9ac551d540513350fa9df1dad0a52777d-d_295x166%3Fregion%3Dus&src1=http%3A%2F%2Ff.vimeocdn.com%2Fp%2Fimages%2Fcrawler_play.png","2025-10-27 08:52:19",1130893714,"/videos/1130893714","video_block$7179acbb-7783-48f2-b0fd-742093486278","video_block",{"variation":69,"version":70,"items":240,"primary":241,"id":258,"slice_type":108,"slice_label":10},[],{"heading":10,"body":242},[243,246,249,252,255],{"type":57,"text":244,"spans":245,"direction":60},"It was on these neglected streets that Gareth, our Head of Production and I stood before the delivery of our first simple but joyous event. The culmination of a tortuous and drawn out tender process which had reduced the proposed delivery time from eighteen to ten months and required an ambitious ten events. We were both fearful that as outsiders, our team and programme may not be welcomed by a community previously starved of investment, marginalised and by many, written off. ",[],{"type":57,"text":247,"spans":248,"direction":60},"The empty high street, Station Road -ironically named as at the time of tendering no trains had visited Ashington for over 50 years, was almost devoid of useful retail outlets. Unless purchasing a second hand sewing machine, pet reptile, tattoo or Greggs sausage roll was on the shopping list. Although there was a local family butchers, newsagents and hardware store crying out for business and the adjacent street, Poundland Avenue, boasted a Weatherspoon’s and Asda. We realised immediately that merely driving footfall to the High Street would not meet anybody’s targets -12,000 audiences and £45 per head spend for the funders and bringing joy, civic pride and the health and wellbeing benefits to residents for us.",[],{"type":57,"text":250,"spans":251,"direction":60},"It seemed an almost impossible task in the limited timescale, given a community for whom it became clear would insist on an ethos of “nothing about us without us”. ",[],{"type":57,"text":253,"spans":254,"direction":60},"We spent the first 3 months embedding ourselves in the town. We met with key stakeholders, community groups and leaders, presenting and amending our ideas and developing a group of “positive friends” to act as a touchstone for programme development and community buy in. We gained the support of the Civic Lead, Head of the Miners Welfare Centre, Local MP, County and Town councillors, charities, youth providers, Head Teachers and College Principles. It felt at times, like a herculean task, a massive leap of faith in our creative programming, skilled event and production managers, marketing and delivery teams. But most of all in our “positive friends” and their ability to engage and include. But as Reemer Bailey summed up, it certainly paid off… ",[],{"type":57,"text":256,"spans":257,"direction":60},"“That first event in November 2024, on a cold, day, bathed in grey clouds felt almost mythical. With a single song, the air ignited, faces glowed, voices rose in cheers, and for the next 10 months Animating Ashington and Walk the Plank found not just an audience... but a family. Ashington didn’t merely host a series of events, it claimed them. Neighbours became collaborators, people became apprentices, and the town’s everyday places were transformed into spaces of wonder. “ And as for the funders targets, economic targets were achieved and an astonishing 30,000 people engaged. ",[],"text_block$9f4fb83a-2888-4d49-9e51-81555cb7d1ae","Nothing about us without us",[261,270],{"entry":262},{"id":263,"type":180,"tags":264,"lang":42,"slug":265,"first_publication_date":266,"last_publication_date":267,"uid":268,"link_type":47,"key":269,"isBroken":49},"aIdztBAAACMADlHR",[],"animating-communities-the-art-and-impact-of-choreography","2025-07-30T10:45:51+0000","2025-08-01T14:27:06+0000","animating-communities","77712655-c5d6-4447-9a3e-bda380a67360",{"entry":271},{"id":272,"type":180,"tags":273,"lang":42,"slug":274,"first_publication_date":275,"last_publication_date":276,"uid":274,"link_type":47,"key":277,"isBroken":49},"aFrHcBIAACYADjUr",[],"hope-and-celebration-in-a-time-of-uncertainty","2025-06-24T15:45:18+0000","2025-12-16T15:19:50+0000","711fd224-46bc-4067-ab8b-984f515a9685",{"dimensions":279,"alt":10,"copyright":10,"url":280,"id":281,"edit":282,"meta":286},{"width":8,"height":9},"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aP9oRrpReVYa3tIA_AnimatingAshington-ToyProcession-CallumThompsonPhotography-15-.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&rect=1592%2C474%2C3956%2C2967&w=4000&h=3000","aP9oRrpReVYa3tIA",{"x":283,"y":284,"zoom":285,"background":16},1592,474,1.29,{"dimensions":287,"alt":10,"copyright":10,"url":288,"id":281,"edit":289},{"width":19,"height":20},"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aP9oRrpReVYa3tIA_AnimatingAshington-ToyProcession-CallumThompsonPhotography-15-.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&rect=0%2C425%2C5741%2C3014&w=1200&h=630",{"x":14,"y":290,"zoom":15,"background":16},425,"Having produced ten inspiring events in Ashington over ten months, Producer Bev Ayre reflects on the challenges, collaborations and moments of magic that made the programme a success. ",{"dimensions":293,"alt":10,"copyright":10,"url":294,"id":295,"edit":296,"portrait":298},{"width":8,"height":26},"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aP9oa7pReVYa3tIO_AnimatingAshington-ToyProcession-CallumThompsonPhotography-105-.jpg?auto=format,compress&rect=225,0,6557,4672&w=4000&h=2850","aP9oa7pReVYa3tIO",{"x":297,"y":14,"zoom":15,"background":16},225,{"dimensions":299,"alt":10,"copyright":10,"url":300,"id":295,"edit":301},{"width":26,"height":8},"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aP9oa7pReVYa3tIO_AnimatingAshington-ToyProcession-CallumThompsonPhotography-105-.jpg?auto=format,compress&rect=1840,0,3329,4672&w=2850&h=4000",{"x":302,"y":14,"zoom":15,"background":16},1840,"Ashington, Northumberland, England",[305],{"link":306,"label":10,"logo":307},{"link_type":54},{},[309],{"newsTag":310},{"id":39,"type":40,"tags":311,"lang":42,"slug":43,"first_publication_date":44,"last_publication_date":44,"uid":43,"link_type":47,"key":312,"isBroken":49},[],"fe89e494-5c5b-4849-a87a-9935edc2348f",{"id":314,"postDate":315,"type":180,"uid":316,"presentedBy":317,"slices5":321,"intro":464,"withRelatedNews":175,"title":471,"relatedNews":472,"primaryImage":501,"summary":512,"heroImage":513,"location":522,"partners":523,"newsTags":527},"aSgtFxIAACMA6a92","2025-11-27T12:00:00+0000","mining-towns-creative-heartbeat-animating-ashington",[318],{"link":319,"label":10,"logo":320},{"link_type":104},{},[322,365,402,456],{"variation":69,"version":70,"items":323,"primary":324,"id":364,"slice_type":108,"slice_label":10},[],{"heading":10,"body":325},[326,329,332,335,341,344,347,352,358,361],{"type":57,"text":327,"spans":328,"direction":60},"A new arts fund to support the local arts community, and an investment in arts-led events to bring the town together, are key parts of the legacy of Animating Ashington.",[],{"type":57,"text":330,"spans":331,"direction":60},"The year-long cultural programme in the former Northumberland mining town has changed its perception of itself, says organisers. Animating Ashington, which was funded by Northumberland Council and delivered by Walk the Plank, saw 10 events in the public realm run from November 2024 until summer 2025.",[],{"type":57,"text":333,"spans":334,"direction":60},"From a Toy Procession to a Feast of Fire, a major land-art commission by artist James Brunt in the public park, street art, theatre and performance, the streets and parks in Ashington became a landscape for free to access arts activity.",[],{"type":57,"text":336,"spans":337,"direction":60},"The cultural investment of £390,000, part of a £35m Regeneration Programme, was designed to engage with 12,000 residents and visitors in Ashington (just under half of the town’s 28k population), to bring a sense of civic pride and to deliver 10 events with “colour and excitement” to Ashington Town Centre.",[338],{"start":339,"end":340,"type":81},257,280,{"type":57,"text":342,"spans":343,"direction":60},"In numbers, hospitality venues reported a 15-20% trading increase on event days, and both rail travel and footfall saw an increase. Over 30,000 attended the events. For every £1 invested, it saw a £2.31 return in value.",[],{"type":57,"text":345,"spans":346,"direction":60},"Yet for organisers it was the impact on the town and its residents that has had a profound effect.",[],{"type":57,"text":348,"spans":349,"direction":60},"“This is the best thing that has ever happened in Ashington, in my entire life”, said one retired resident.",[350],{"start":14,"end":351,"type":81},79,{"type":57,"text":353,"spans":354,"direction":60},"In the 19th century, Ashington was dubbed “the world’s largest coal mining village,” built around the Grand Station Road shopping district and powered by the collective energy of local miners.",[355],{"start":356,"end":357,"type":81},42,83,{"type":57,"text":359,"spans":360,"direction":60},"The town’s rich industrial heritage, including the internationally renowned Pitmen Painters, gave way to economic hardship since the decline of the coal industry in the 1970s and 1980s. While major land reclamation projects, such as the creation of QEII Country Park and the establishment of Woodhorn Museum on a former pit site, have preserved critical aspects of Ashington’s history, the town centre has struggled with vacancy, underinvestment, and low footfall.",[],{"type":57,"text":362,"spans":363,"direction":60},"Ashington’s children live in a local authority where about 1 in 6 children are below the poverty line before housing costs. Over half of Ashington households experience at least one form of deprivation (e.g., low pay, long-term illness, overcrowding). The North East has some of the highest child-poverty rates in England (circa 31% after housing costs), driven by both high living costs and low regional wages.",[],"text_block$8fbd5156-ef3f-442d-9926-c3b2b84ffbe2",{"variation":69,"version":70,"items":366,"primary":399,"id":400,"slice_type":401,"slice_label":10},[367,375,383,391],{"image":368,"caption":10},{"dimensions":369,"alt":370,"copyright":10,"url":371,"id":372,"edit":373},{"width":8,"height":26},"A performer in a red top and green tutu dances down the street flanked by two performers dressed as Christmas Crackers","https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aBsnPydWJ-7kRsyZ_AnimatingAshington-ToyProcession-CallumThompsonPhotography-6-.jpg?auto=format,compress&rect=127,0,3683,2624&w=4000&h=2850","aBsnPydWJ-7kRsyZ",{"x":374,"y":14,"zoom":15,"background":16},127,{"image":376,"caption":10},{"dimensions":377,"alt":378,"copyright":10,"url":379,"id":380,"edit":381},{"width":8,"height":26},"A pattern of concentric circles all containing symbols associated with Ashington, in white paint across a large field seen from above","https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aBsmoSdWJ-7kRsyG_AnimatingAshington%2CSeedingtheFuture%2CWalkthePlank%2CDroneStudioNorthEast-5-.jpg?auto=format,compress&rect=0,47,2500,1781&w=4000&h=2850","aBsmoSdWJ-7kRsyG",{"x":14,"y":382,"zoom":15,"background":16},47,{"image":384,"caption":10},{"dimensions":385,"alt":386,"copyright":10,"url":387,"id":388,"edit":389},{"width":8,"height":26},"A crowd of people walking in a procession through a park all carrying fire torches","https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aBslVidWJ-7kRswx_AnimatingAshington%2CPrideofAshingtonTorchlitParade%2CWalkthePlank%2CMarkSavage%2C2025-111-.jpg?auto=format,compress&rect=57,0,1686,1201&w=4000&h=2850","aBslVidWJ-7kRswx",{"x":390,"y":14,"zoom":15,"background":16},57,{"image":392,"caption":10},{"dimensions":393,"alt":394,"copyright":10,"url":395,"id":396,"edit":397},{"width":8,"height":26},"A crowd of people walking through a metal archway that is lit with fire","https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aBsjQidWJ-7kRsva_IMG_5087.jpg?auto=format,compress&rect=58,0,1684,1200&w=4000&h=2850","aBsjQidWJ-7kRsva",{"x":398,"y":14,"zoom":15,"background":16},58,{},"image_carousel_block$4c9885ac-140c-4ad1-874a-076bf0676e26","image_carousel_block",{"variation":69,"version":70,"items":403,"primary":404,"id":455,"slice_type":108,"slice_label":10},[],{"heading":10,"body":405},[406,409,414,417,422,425,431,434,437,442,447,452],{"type":57,"text":407,"spans":408,"direction":60},"Bev Ayre is the Producer at Walk the Plank, who managed and delivered the ten events. Walk the Plank are the UK’s leading outdoor arts specialists with over 30 years of experience in pioneering creative placemaking.",[],{"type":57,"text":410,"spans":411,"direction":60},"“It was vital we put the art in the public realm. We proactively created theatre, performances, processions and workshops that made the audience participants, as opposed to passively watching.”",[412],{"start":14,"end":413,"type":81},193,{"type":57,"text":415,"spans":416,"direction":60},"Bev, who has worked in outdoor art and festival delivery across the North West and North of England, says it requires a different approach when you are working with a community that has lost a muscle memory when it comes to arts participation.",[],{"type":57,"text":418,"spans":419,"direction":60},"“In cities and large towns where there is regular arts activity, even if it reduces in volume, there is still a low level understanding of what your role as an audience member is. In Ashington, and in towns that have suffered from longstanding underinvestment, you lose that muscle memory, the confidence to be creative, to engage creatively and to be part of any arts activity isn’t taught, it isn’t instinctive. So you have to bring it to someone’s front door, you have to hold out your hand and invite them to get stuck in.”",[420],{"start":14,"end":421,"type":81},527,{"type":57,"text":423,"spans":424,"direction":60},"The free arts events ran alongside workshops, engagement programmes with local businesses and shoppers, and the development of a core 30 strong group of supporters in the town who shared news about the programme and encouraged people to get involved.",[],{"type":57,"text":426,"spans":427,"direction":60},"Art can have a real impact on a town. It can shape our sense of self and how we build a relationship with our past, present and future, says Bev. “We work with communities who think art isn’t for them. It isn’t that it isn’t accessible, it doesn’t exist. If we are going to make those communities who are under-served imagine a new future for their town, we need to go back to basics, and help them discover what art is and what it can do”.",[428],{"start":429,"end":430,"type":81},146,439,{"type":57,"text":432,"spans":433,"direction":60},"42% of expenditure was retained in Ashington and nearby communities through contracts with local artists, suppliers, caterers, accommodation providers and crew. This ensured that regeneration funding stayed within the local economy and aligned with HM Treasury’s Green Book principle of local additionality.",[],{"type":57,"text":435,"spans":436,"direction":60},"Caroline Ball is Councillor and Town Councillor for Ashington Central Ward.",[],{"type":57,"text":438,"spans":439,"direction":60},"\"It was fantastic to see world class cultural events in Ashington and I hope this is the start of many opportunities for the people of Ashington.",[440],{"start":14,"end":441,"type":81},145,{"type":57,"text":443,"spans":444,"direction":60},"Arts open up a world of opportunities and experiences beyond the everyday and walk the plank brought magic to everyone young and not so young from the town and it was a joy to see residents’ eyes light up when they seen a dancing robot on the main street, or drummers in the colliery rows and the excitement from school children who took part in the parades across the program.\"",[445],{"start":14,"end":446,"type":81},378,{"type":57,"text":448,"spans":449,"direction":60},"“This programme has marked an unprecedented outpouring of community development and support in Ashington for an incoming arts collective”, says a local artist.",[450],{"start":14,"end":451,"type":81},137,{"type":57,"text":453,"spans":454,"direction":60},"Ashington has brought in a town arts and culture fund to support local arts and community groups. It is also investing in a programme of smaller scale events, produced by local arts organisations, including a Christmas lights switch on.",[],"text_block$28fa26e4-b66b-445b-a731-ce3bec9ae0d7",{"variation":69,"version":70,"items":457,"primary":458,"id":463,"slice_type":238,"slice_label":10},[],{"videoUrl":459,"caption":219},{"embed_url":216,"type":217,"version":218,"title":219,"author_name":220,"author_url":221,"provider_name":222,"provider_url":223,"thumbnail_url":460,"thumbnail_width":225,"thumbnail_height":226,"html":227,"is_plus":228,"account_type":229,"width":230,"height":231,"duration":232,"description":461,"thumbnail_url_with_play_button":462,"upload_date":234,"video_id":235,"uri":236},"https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2075291423-ee4a0ee3c9e39a23999d7de77a97ab28c5decf30ec5f7374a6df883a505d6c18-d_295x166?region=us","Animating Ashington is a cultural regeneration programme funded by UKSPF and NECA, delivered by Walk the Plank on behalf of Northumberland County Council, as part of a 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The relative stability and predictability of the pre-COVID era seem distant.  ",[],{"type":57,"text":559,"spans":560,"direction":60},"We have to create that stability somehow, and our business planning continues in earnest. Where we want to get to, how we get there, and what we may have to overcome. For the last of these, our PESTEL Analysis (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal) seems to define some of the biggest challenges we face, whereas in the past it has given us a sense of the background over which we operate.  ",[],{"type":57,"text":562,"spans":563,"direction":60},"From swings in political attitudes towards the arts - in education, national policy and in many of the areas we work in, to wage increases struggling to keep our staff in the black due to the cost of living crisis, AI creeping into job applications and elsewhere, rafts of new legal requirements from HR to Charity financial regs, not to mention the multifaceted challenges in the face of the climate crisis… we try to do what we can.  ",[],{"type":57,"text":565,"spans":566,"direction":60},"What a dark picture I’m painting! Of course, at Walk the Plank, we are optimists and resilient, and we work hard to weather all this stuff so that we can make incredible culture and art with people across the country. Thankfully, there are many organisations and councils who are still keen to invest in cultural activity for their residents, as the return on investment – social and economic – is now proven and understood. Our work does bring change, for people and places, transforming somewhere in the moment and planting seeds for long-term change.  ",[],{"type":57,"text":568,"spans":569,"direction":60},"Sometimes we need to acknowledge that, as an organisation, we may be suffering from ‘Headline Stress Disorder’. The world seems in turmoil on the face of it, but what is actually important is to connect with people and communities again and again to remind ourselves, them, and everyone that overwhelmingly, at the core of people there is hope, generosity, kindness and a desire to look around and celebrate, and that is where we want to get to. ",[],"text_block$5cf600f6-1990-43ca-8c40-2ffddee25f38",[572],{"type":57,"text":573,"spans":574,"direction":60},"We all got used to managing the unmanageable during COVID, periods of dramatic uncertainty day to day, and at best, a cloudy horizon, combined with micromanagement at a new level.  ",[],"Hope and Celebration in a Time of 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Carter",[635],{"link":636,"label":10,"logo":637},{"link_type":104},{},{"id":639,"type":193,"tags":640,"lang":42,"slug":641,"first_publication_date":642,"last_publication_date":643,"uid":641,"link_type":47,"key":644,"isBroken":49},"Zco-5BEAALRjFi3A",[],"alice-carter","2024-02-12T15:54:27+0000","2025-05-07T10:19:28+0000","3209c20b-95f6-4c68-b369-6dd319b95965",[646,673,688,711,727,741],{"variation":69,"version":70,"items":647,"primary":648,"id":672,"slice_type":108,"slice_label":10},[],{"heading":10,"body":649},[650,666,669],{"type":57,"text":651,"spans":652,"direction":60},"In September 2025, Walk the Plank worked with Avanti Display’s creative team to produce Ghost Train in Stockton and Darlington, one of the largest commissions in the UK in recent years. The result of two years of collaboration with Avanti Display’s Bill Palmer, Andy Plant, Chris Squire and Bryan Tweddle, this ambitious project challenged us to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the world’s first passenger railway. Ghost Train featured fire, music, projection, performance and close work with multiple communities and schools from across the region to create a moment of national significance deeply rooted in the identity of the Northeast. ",[653,663,664],{"start":654,"end":655,"type":102,"data":656},88,99,{"id":657,"type":658,"tags":659,"lang":42,"slug":660,"first_publication_date":661,"last_publication_date":662,"uid":660,"link_type":47,"isBroken":49},"aM0hbhAAACUAupif","project",[],"ghost-train","2025-09-19T10:13:39+0000","2025-11-19T16:04:24+0000",{"start":654,"end":655,"type":470},{"start":665,"end":374,"type":81},126,{"type":57,"text":667,"spans":668,"direction":60},"Celebrating history is never just about looking back, it’s about understanding how the past continues to shape the places we live in today. Walk the Plank’s work is grounded in the belief that creativity can illuminate the stories we inherit, and that bringing people together through shared cultural experiences can help strengthen a sense of place. ",[],{"type":57,"text":670,"spans":671,"direction":60},"For me personally, Ghost Train was the largest-scale production I have ever worked on, not only in terms of creative ambition, but also the historical and social responsibility underpinning the work. Ghost Train perfectly encapsulated the challenges and joys of balancing heritage with new creative expression. As the finale to a year-long celebration, the project had to honour the birth of the passenger railway while also reflecting on the huge changes the UK has undergone since the Industrial Revolution. In the Northeast especially, the legacy of engineering, industry and ingenuity runs deep, and we felt a strong duty to celebrate both the region’s heritage and the innovators shaping its future. ",[],"text_block$18fe708c-d884-44da-8456-318f4f50560f",{"variation":69,"version":70,"items":674,"primary":675,"id":687,"slice_type":238,"slice_label":10},[],{"videoUrl":676,"caption":678},{"embed_url":677,"type":217,"version":218,"title":678,"author_name":220,"author_url":221,"provider_name":222,"provider_url":223,"thumbnail_url":679,"thumbnail_width":225,"thumbnail_height":226,"html":680,"is_plus":228,"account_type":229,"width":230,"height":231,"duration":681,"description":682,"thumbnail_url_with_play_button":683,"upload_date":684,"video_id":685,"uri":686},"https://vimeo.com/1143363846?fl=pl&fe=sh","Ghost Train: The Making of a Spectacle","https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2091531422-51cfd211b9ffb479bec873c4bcdd4bbdb83cedf293e278dd37e41f1f5d9a2a75-d_295x166?region=us","\u003Ciframe src=\"https://player.vimeo.com/video/1143363846?app_id=122963\" width=\"426\" height=\"240\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" title=\"Ghost Train: The Making of a Spectacle\">\u003C/iframe>",1025,"Commissioned by Darlington Borough Council, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, and S&DR200, Ghost Train was brought to life through two years of collaboration between Avanti Display and Walk the Plank.","https://i.vimeocdn.com/filter/overlay?src0=https%3A%2F%2Fi.vimeocdn.com%2Fvideo%2F2091531422-51cfd211b9ffb479bec873c4bcdd4bbdb83cedf293e278dd37e41f1f5d9a2a75-d_295x166%3Fregion%3Dus&src1=http%3A%2F%2Ff.vimeocdn.com%2Fp%2Fimages%2Fcrawler_play.png","2025-12-04 04:08:38",1143363846,"/videos/1143363846","video_block$fd961d29-5958-4fcf-aeca-3f06e4846ba9",{"variation":69,"version":70,"items":689,"primary":690,"id":710,"slice_type":108,"slice_label":10},[],{"heading":10,"body":691},[692,695,698,701,704,707],{"type":57,"text":693,"spans":694,"direction":60},"At its heart was a reimagined full-scale Loco Number One, painstakingly researched and built by Avanti Display, followed by six Nissan Micra “carriages,” each transformed into an installation referencing a technological milestone that has reshaped our world over the past 200 years — from the power of steam to the creation of unified “railway time” and advances in space exploration. The train honours the innovation of 200 years ago; the Micras nod to the region’s more recent industrial story; and the final leap into space celebrates the present and future innovators who continue to push boundaries. ",[],{"type":57,"text":696,"spans":697,"direction":60},"The entire train was fuelled by ‘coal of the future’, created by more than 900 Darlington primary school children, displaying their ideas for future inventions that could change the world. Think flying cars and climate change reversers!  ",[],{"type":57,"text":699,"spans":700,"direction":60},"From the outset, we all – the creative and production team - recognised that the success of this project relied on being rooted in place. The story of the Stockton & Darlington Railway is not an abstract piece of history: it belongs to the people who live and work in these towns today. That meant embedding collaboration at every stage, working with residents, schools and local creatives to shape a narrative that felt true to the region. This way of working is fundamental to Walk the Plank’s approach: championing the role of arts, culture and heritage in placemaking by centring local voices, uncovering hidden histories and balancing tradition with new creative expression. ",[],{"type":57,"text":702,"spans":703,"direction":60},"The scale of the community involvement in Ghost Train speaks for itself: a creative team, crew and cast of more than 70, alongside 30 community volunteers, 1,000 primary school pupils, and 100 students from the Northern School of Art. Their involvement shaped the show’s tone and emotional resonance. Each contribution - whether artistic, performative or practical - helped connect the historic railway story to the lived experience of people in the Northeast today. ",[],{"type":57,"text":705,"spans":706,"direction":60},"One moment in particular captured the power of this approach: a 10-year-old participant from Darlington shared that his great-great-grandfather had played cornet in the band aboard that very first passenger journey. It was wonderful, on the day of our event, to feel the presence of that first journey, and it reinforced our shared knowledge that Ghost Train was part of an ongoing story that bridges past, present and future. ",[],{"type":57,"text":708,"spans":709,"direction":60}," ",[],"text_block$7e3d365f-09ef-48e4-af8d-5639822adc48",{"variation":69,"version":70,"items":712,"primary":713,"id":726,"slice_type":127,"slice_label":10},[],{"image":714,"caption":10},{"dimensions":715,"alt":716,"copyright":10,"url":717,"id":718,"edit":719,"portrait":721},{"width":8,"height":114},"Ghost Train Stockton, Marlon Bonilla, 2025","https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aShERHNYClf9nih0_GhostTrainStockton2025MarlonBonilla-31-.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&rect=0%2C591%2C3632%2C1816&w=4000&h=2000","aShERHNYClf9nih0",{"x":14,"y":720,"zoom":15,"background":16},591,{"dimensions":722,"alt":716,"copyright":10,"url":723,"id":718,"edit":724},{"width":26,"height":8},"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aShERHNYClf9nih0_GhostTrainStockton2025MarlonBonilla-31-.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&rect=883%2C0%2C1865%2C2618&w=2850&h=4000",{"x":725,"y":14,"zoom":15,"background":16},883,"full_width_image_block$eb26bb47-e992-4845-8fa2-70a322f271f1",{"variation":69,"version":70,"items":728,"primary":729,"id":740,"slice_type":108,"slice_label":10},[],{"heading":10,"body":730},[731,734],{"type":57,"text":732,"spans":733,"direction":60},"As we now move into evaluation, we are beginning to think about the legacy of the work. For the communities involved, legacy means ensuring these stories continue to be shared and celebrated. For us, it means exploring how we can maintain our relationships with the Northern School of Art students as they transition into professional creative careers; and investigating ways for the train and its carriages to be displayed publicly in 2026, allowing more people to engage with the installations and the remarkable history behind them. ",[],{"type":57,"text":735,"spans":736,"direction":60},"Ghost Train was undoubtedly a celebration of the region’s heritage but for Walk the Plank its long-term success depends on its ability to inspire. Our hope is that this project sparks curiosity, pride and imagination, encouraging future innovators to see their own potential, strengthening the cultural identity of Darlington and Stockton for years to come. Through work like Ghost Train, we aim to ensure that the stories of the past continue to fuel the creativity and innovation of the future. ",[737],{"start":738,"end":739,"type":81},387,388,"text_block$c4f67125-54ad-4950-bd2a-fc34baa64ea1",{"variation":69,"version":70,"items":742,"primary":791,"id":792,"slice_type":401,"slice_label":10},[743,750,756,763,769,776,783],{"image":744,"caption":10},{"dimensions":745,"alt":746,"copyright":10,"url":747,"id":748,"edit":749},{"width":8,"height":26},"A metal replica of a steam train with wings and golden fireworks behind. ","https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aNqe4J5xUNkB1OoB_GhostTrainStockton2025MarkWaugh-149-.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=145,0,4211,3000&w=4000&h=2850","aNqe4J5xUNkB1OoB",{"x":441,"y":14,"zoom":15,"background":16},{"image":751,"caption":10},{"dimensions":752,"alt":10,"copyright":10,"url":753,"id":754,"edit":755},{"width":8,"height":26},"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aNqicJ5xUNkB1Ot1_GhostTrainStockton2025MarkWaugh-66-.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=145,0,4211,3000&w=4000&h=2850","aNqicJ5xUNkB1Ot1",{"x":441,"y":14,"zoom":15,"background":16},{"image":757,"caption":10},{"dimensions":758,"alt":10,"copyright":10,"url":759,"id":760,"edit":761},{"width":8,"height":26},"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aNUZu55xUNkB1GGe_GhostTrain_Darlington_200925_03.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=96,0,2807,2000&w=4000&h=2850","aNUZu55xUNkB1GGe",{"x":762,"y":14,"zoom":15,"background":16},96,{"image":764,"caption":10},{"dimensions":765,"alt":10,"copyright":10,"url":766,"id":767,"edit":768},{"width":8,"height":26},"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aNqh955xUNkB1OtP_GhostTrainStockton2025MarkWaugh-15-.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=145,0,4211,3000&w=4000&h=2850","aNqh955xUNkB1OtP",{"x":441,"y":14,"zoom":15,"background":16},{"image":770,"caption":10},{"dimensions":771,"alt":10,"copyright":10,"url":772,"id":773,"edit":774},{"width":8,"height":26},"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aNUZ2p5xUNkB1GGl_GhostTrain_Darlington_200925_95.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=155,0,2691,1917&w=4000&h=2850","aNUZ2p5xUNkB1GGl",{"x":775,"y":14,"zoom":15,"background":16},155,{"image":777,"caption":10},{"dimensions":778,"alt":779,"copyright":10,"url":780,"id":781,"edit":782},{"width":8,"height":26},"A metal replica of a steam train with wings in front of a town hall clock.","https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aNUZY55xUNkB1GF4_GhostTrain_Darlington_200925_86.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=96,0,2807,2000&w=4000&h=2850","aNUZY55xUNkB1GF4",{"x":762,"y":14,"zoom":15,"background":16},{"image":784,"caption":10},{"dimensions":785,"alt":786,"copyright":10,"url":787,"id":788,"edit":789},{"width":8,"height":26},"Five cars with small performance stages on them, one adored with a engine, one a trumpet and one a telescope processing in the night, all with performers on. ","https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aNUZ-p5xUNkB1GHJ_GhostTrain_Darlington_200925_173.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=169,0,2662,1897&w=4000&h=2850","aNUZ-p5xUNkB1GHJ",{"x":790,"y":14,"zoom":15,"background":16},169,{},"image_carousel_block$733da32b-185f-4262-a0b3-b46fcd059b10","Celebrating History, Heritage and Innovation: Reflections on Ghost Train",[795,802],{"entry":796},{"id":314,"type":180,"tags":797,"lang":42,"slug":798,"first_publication_date":799,"last_publication_date":800,"uid":316,"link_type":47,"key":801,"isBroken":49},[],"how-animating-ashington-restarted-a-mining-towns-creative-heartbeat","2025-11-27T11:15:14+0000","2025-12-16T15:13:59+0000","6471e109-b110-4bb4-b810-03babf7c6a42",{"entry":803},{"id":178,"type":180,"tags":804,"lang":42,"slug":181,"first_publication_date":476,"last_publication_date":477,"uid":181,"link_type":47,"key":805,"isBroken":49},[],"f1b32496-cd69-4844-827d-30f05e5da14c",{"dimensions":807,"alt":808,"copyright":10,"url":809,"id":810,"edit":811,"meta":812},{"width":8,"height":9},"A huge triangle stage with a replica of a steam train in metal attached to tracks going along the sides. The stage filled with smoke. ","https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aNqe1Z5xUNkB1On8_GhostTrainStockton2025MarkWaugh-81-.JPG?auto=format%2Ccompress&rect=0%2C0%2C4000%2C3000&w=4000&h=3000","aNqe1Z5xUNkB1On8",{"x":14,"y":14,"zoom":15,"background":16},{"dimensions":813,"alt":808,"copyright":10,"url":814,"id":810,"edit":815},{"width":19,"height":20},"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aNqe1Z5xUNkB1On8_GhostTrainStockton2025MarkWaugh-81-.JPG?auto=format%2Ccompress&rect=0%2C637%2C4500%2C2363&w=1200&h=630",{"x":14,"y":816,"zoom":15,"background":16},637,"Producer Alice Carter reflects on Ghost Train, a project celebrating history, heritage and innovation.",{"dimensions":819,"alt":808,"copyright":10,"url":820,"id":810,"edit":821,"portrait":822},{"width":8,"height":26},"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aNqe1Z5xUNkB1On8_GhostTrainStockton2025MarkWaugh-81-.JPG?auto=format%2Ccompress&rect=0%2C0%2C4211%2C3000&w=4000&h=2850",{"x":14,"y":14,"zoom":15,"background":16},{"dimensions":823,"alt":808,"copyright":10,"url":824,"id":810,"edit":825},{"width":26,"height":8},"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aNqe1Z5xUNkB1On8_GhostTrainStockton2025MarkWaugh-81-.JPG?auto=format%2Ccompress&rect=0%2C902%2C1495%2C2098&w=2850&h=4000",{"x":14,"y":826,"zoom":827,"background":16},902,1.43,"Stockton and Darlington",[830],{"link":831,"label":10,"logo":832},{"link_type":54},{},[834],{"newsTag":835},{"id":39,"type":40,"tags":836,"lang":42,"slug":43,"first_publication_date":44,"last_publication_date":44,"uid":43,"link_type":47,"key":837,"isBroken":49},[],"70a85148-d2ac-43b2-abf3-915400e7aea5",[839],{"id":39,"postDate":44,"type":40,"uid":43,"title":46},"aZ2aXhEAACMA-ykE","2026-02-24T15:13:15+0000",1784902692086]