School pupils in Sunniside find regeneration is right up their street

Young artists at a Sunderland school are finding regeneration is right up their street as they create a collage of buildings out of recycled old materials.

Pupils at Hudson Road Primary School are taking inspiration from a disused shop fitters that overlooks the school and is to be knocked down as part of future regeneration plans for the Sunniside area.

Children from Year 5 and 6 are working with North East artist Dawn Lehrer to use images and paint to create their very own street in Sunniside.

Dawn, who has been commissioned by regeneration agencies Sunniside Partnership and Sunderland arc, said: “The pupils have been learning about the regeneration process as it is part of their visual landscape. Their work will reflect the changes of Sunniside through the use of materials and images gathered from the area to make collages which they will combine to create a new and vibrant piece of art.”

Dawn is working on her own contribution to the project at Sunderland Artist Studio, where some of her previous work is on display. The culmination of the project will be an exhibition at thePlace – Sunniside’s new business and arts centre – later in the year.

Ben Hall, director of Sunniside Partnership, said: “We are delighted to be supporting this project as it gives people the opportunity to become involved in the regeneration process.

“Dawn is introducing the pupils to new and exciting art techniques as well as encouraging them to express their views on the changing environment around them.”

Since Sunniside Partnership was set up in 2003 by Sunderland arc, Sunderland City Council, One North East and the Homes and Communities Agency, the area has attracted more than £90 million of private investment and boasts award-winning developments including Sunniside Gardens, thePlace and the Gentoo led Mowbray Apartments.

Listed buildings have been brought back into commercial use and the area is becoming renowned for its high quality bars, restaurants, cafes and niche shops. Public realm improvements to the main streets linking Sunniside into the rest of the city centre begin later this summer.