Love Art

Middlesbrough's arts and cultural scene is undergoing a renaissance which has largely been fuelled by the opening of mima, Middlesbrough's stunning, contemporary new art gallery. Other developments, such as the groundbreaking Temenos project, are adding to the ongoing achievements of the town's arts community, underline Middlesbrough's spirit for innovation and creativity.

mima

mima is one of the UK's leading galleries for modern and contemporary art and craft. The landmark building designed by Erick van Egeraat Architects is situated in the heart of Middlesbrough. mima opened to international critical acclaim in January 2007.

Hosting temporary exhibitions of fine art and craft from 1900 to the present, mima showcases work by internationally acclaimed artists. The quarterly programme includes painting, drawing, ceramics, jewellery, sound, film, mixed media, photography and sculpture. Exhibitions change every quarter and admission is free.

mima is part of Middlesbrough Council and is funded by Middlesbrough Council and Arts Council England. The building was realised with support from: One NorthEast, Government Office North East, Northern Rock Foundation and The Foyle Foundation.

mima has attracted over £1.2 million of awards to help Middlesbrough build on its important collection of art
mima has won awards from the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and the Art Fund
National partnership have been established with Tate and the Crafts Council and International partnerships are in place with the Drawing Center in New York and the National Museums of Berlin
Over 9,000 children have taken pat in organised school visits to mima and over 400 events have been organised.
Over 100 important works of art have been given to Middlesbrough since mima opened.

Temenos

Temenos is the the £2.7m art installation that will form part of the largest art initiative in the world. One of a series of five 'Tees Valley Giants', Temenos is the first installation that will be located at Middlehaven. It will cost cost 32.7m and will be a staggering 110m in length and almost 50m high.

Internationally acclaimed sculptor Anish Kapoor and leading structural designer Cecil Balmond are responsible for bringing the project to fruition. The artist and engineer are known for the monumental scale of their work and are two of the most sought after names in the art world. Their works can be seen in prominent locations around the globe including New York, Chicago and Beijing. Latest news »

The Bottle of Notes

Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen's monumental sculpture Bottle of Notes, which soars thirty feet high, alongside mima in Centre Square.

This is the first public sculpture in the United Kingdom by these two internationally renowned artists. It is made of steel painted with polyurethane enamel.

The tempered steel used in the sculpture echoes Middlesbrough's industrial heritage and the exterior text (in white) is a quotation from Captain Cook's journal describing an astronomer's observation aboard the ship: "We had every advantage we could desire in Observing the whole of the passage of the Planet Venus over the Sun's disk."

The inner text, in blue, is a prose poem by Coosje van Bruggen, "I like to remember seagulls in full flight gliding over the ring of canals."

Spectra-txt

Spectra-txt created by Peter Freeman was a major innovation in public art when it was installed in 2004.

Spectra-txt is a 10 metre high interactive column of light made for the centre of Middlesbrough. Fibre-optic and mirrored stainless steel create shimmering colours and spectacular reflections.

Interact with Spectra-txt by texting one of the following commands to this number: blue, starvibe, xxx, pearl, boro, chromapop to 07919 00 00 77. (Standard text message rates apply.)

The text can be altered from anywhere in the world. The column is partially inspired by Captain Cook's journey to Tahiti and so the very first text message sent to Spectra-txt came from Tahiti, 236 years to the day since Captain Cook's historic visit to the island.

Kandi Sky

Kandi Sky by sculptor Pierre Diamantopoulo provides a gateway arch to Middlesbrough College in Middlehaven.

It spans 22 metres and weighs 10 tonnes. It is made of brightly coloured shapes and figures balancing on six pillars almost 11 metres above the ground at the College’s Transporter Bridge entrance.

The artist explains,"The sculpture is a metaphor for the processes of discovery and learning: the throwing of ideas in the air, balancing of thoughts, the leverage of knowledge and the roller-coaster ride of experience, then the bounding energy of physical education and the performing arts."

Platform Arts

Platform Arts is a registered charity and provides affordable studio space for visual artists in the Tees Valley.

Platform Arts occupies newly constructed purpose built studios within Middlesbrough Railway Station, a Grade II listed building. Housed in the old British Rail Parcel Store and Fish Quay the latest addition to BOHO Middlesbrough's creative and cultural quarter is now open with 14 professional artists and craftspeople currently leasing studio spaces.

Artists within the new studios include contemporary painters, printmakers, sculptors and craftspeople.

Python Gallery

Launched in July 2007, the Python Gallery provides quality exhibition space with a rolling programme of shows and events. Located in the heart of the Middlehaven area of Middlesbrough, the gallery has an integral café bistro and entry is free.

The gallery was shortlisted for the community award in the prestigious 30th Arts and Business Awards at the Victoria and Albert Museum in Nov 2008.

Cleveland College of Art and Design (CCAD)

Cleveland College of Art and Design is the top specialist further education Art and Design College in England according to figures published by the Government Department for Children, Schools and Families (2009).

At right, Cleveland College of Art & Design Principal Martin Raby and students.

Cleveland College of Art & Design has been lavished with praise by education watchdog Ofsted, following a thorough inspection of the opportunities it provides to more than 800 full-time students from across the North every year.

The college was hailed for its students’ academic achievements, the outstanding quality of its teaching, providing a rich and varied curriculum and meeting the needs of a diverse range of learners.

Previous students of CCAD include world renowned artist MacKenzie Thorpe and Hollywood film director Sir Ridley Scott, whose credits include Alien, Gladiator, Thelma and Louise and Blade Runner.

MacKenzie Thorpe

The internationally renowned artist, creating sculptures and acclaimed paintings was brought up in Middlesbrough and is a former student of Cleveland College of Art and Design.

Gallery TS1

Gallery TS1 is an art enterprise with creative shop, gallery and workspace, selling high quality, fresh & affordable arts and crafts by emerging and established local artists, designers and crafty types.

It is home to an arts apprenticeship scheme, encouraging and inspiring young people aged 16+, whilst they gain invaluable hands-on work experience and proven routes into training and employment.

Gallery TS1 and the apprenticeship scheme were initiated and are supported by Middlesbrough Council Culture and Tourism Services.

Download: mima Summer Brochure

mima Summer What's On Brochure 2010

This summer mima presents three exhibitions by three outstanding female artists: focusing on Middlesbrough’s industrial heritage. This includes the first major solo show by young British artist Bonnie Camplin, works by a recently discovered local artist Viva Talbot and a new piece by Swedish sound superstar Hanna Hartman.