The Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle, was first opened to the public on the 13th of October 1904. The gallery is named after Alexander Laing, who in 1900, offered to pay for the gallery to be built, to celebrate his 50 years of successful business in Newcastle. Today the Laing is managed by Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums.
Blue Carpet is a work by Thomas Heatherwick, located next to the Laing Art Gallery on the pedestrianised section of New Bridge Street West. It was commissioned by Newcastle City Council and the "carpet", completed in 2001, forms a public open space. The "carpet" is formed with tiles made of blue glass in resin laid across the square and 'riding up' against the gallery and bollards.
Co-Curate is a project which brings together online collections, museums, universities, schools
and community groups to make and re-make stories and images from North East England and Cumbria.
Co-Curate
is a trans-disciplinary project that will open up 'official' museum and 'un-officia'l co-created
community-based collections and archives through innovative collaborative approaches using
social media and open archives/data.