The third of six programmes produced by Merlin Films for Tyne Tees Television that looks at the arts scene around the region. In this programme a look at the arts scene in Middlesbrough speaking to members of the local council about what they are doing to bring art to the town, as well as artists and poets who work and live in the area including a reading from the Cleveland Academy of Asian Art and Literature. Title: In A City Art Art in an Urban World Middlesbrough A tugboat on the River...

The third of six programmes produced by Merlin Films for Tyne Tees Television that looks at the arts scene around the region. In this programme a look at the arts scene in Middlesbrough speaking to members of the local council about what they are doing to bring art to the town, as well as artists and poets who work and live in the area including a reading from the Cleveland Academy of Asian Art and Literature. Title: In A City Art Art in an Urban World Middlesbrough A tugboat on the River Tees changes to the gondola of the Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge crossing the river. Along the walkway atop the bridge poet Pauline Plummer reads out her poem Middlesbrough Daughter. Following the reading she talks about Middlesbrough being a ‘hard little town’ but that she has been able to put down roots and enter the life of the community. Following a small boy runs alongside a wall behind which is a local scrapyard a montage of the town featuring Middlesbrough Town Hall on Corporation Road and Andrew Bentley Arts Development Officer for Middlesbrough Borough Council speaking in voiceover about how the town is one of the greatest urban communities you can find, extremely contained as a tight urban unit. After he explains that the town’s creative writing scene is one of strongest in region, Pauline Plummer talks about the writing process for Middlesbrough Daughter after which she reads an additional passage over views of the town from the top of the Transporter Bridge and slow-motion footage of women pushing prams and pushchairs along roads. Along the banks of the River Tees is Teessaurus Park with its large metal dinosaur sculptures. Walking through the park is Mohammed Hanif from the Cleveland Academy of Asian Art and Literature. After explaining how the town was isolated in relation to Asian art, he provides details on the establishment of the academy and that he invited poets from across the country as well as locally. Standing beside one of sculptures the academy’s star poet Farouk Hamid reads one of his pieces in Urdu with English subtitles. A montage inside the recently completed modern office building Middlesbrough House featuring a stained-glass installation in the main entrance. In voiceover Tony Duggan Landscape Development Officers for Middlesbrough Council provides details on a council policy where a fixed amount of money for each development is allocated towards having an element of artwork within that development. Standing beside Tony is Reuben Kench Public Arts Officer for Cleveland Arts who talks about the involvement of Langridge Crescent Tenant Management Committee in the development of a large mural installed inside a recently completed day nursery. As the children play nearby Sandra Pettett playgroup leader talks about how the mural represents of the local area and how the children interact with it. A coal train traveling along a railway track changes to an exterior of Middlesbrough House and its stained-glass. In voiceover Tony Duggan talks about different types of development and how art can be incorporated into them. An example of a piece of street art changes to a recently completed modern housing estate with the driveway of one of the properties done artistically. Again, Tony talks about how artistic ideas can be incorporated into the landscaping aspect of such developments. A montage around this new development featuring decorative railings along with the colourful driveway. A series of colourful flags flying on poles inside Pallister Park with cars and pedestrians walking or driving past nearby. In voiceover Councillor Chris Robson provides details of the development of this community arts project and how it was done in collaboration with the local community. He provides details with regards a future development of the area and how it is council policy to spend 1% of what is being spent by the council on arts projects such as these all with the support and involvement of the local community. Models parading up and down wearing outfits produced by two students from the Cleveland College of Art and Design; Naseem Nawab and Susan Watson. The two young women talk about what they do on their BETEC Diploma in Fashion course and about the pieces that are being modelled. A group of young people standing outside Triads fashion boutique on Albert Road. Inside co-owner Colin Donaldson talks about how young people in Middlesbrough are becoming more fashion conscious and willing to spend more money on clothing. A montage around the shop featuring staff, customers and racks of clothing with Colin believing Middlesbrough is doing better for the size of town it is than either Newcastle or Sunderland. Standing in the shop is sculpture Keith Bridgewood who talks about the work he did designing and building the shops interiors and fixtures. Over traffic on the corner of Albert and Corporation Road local painter Nigel Downing talks about the development of Artists in Middlesbrough. Their studio space on Corporation Road with Nigel talking about the help they received from Middlesbrough Council. A montage of his paintings and artwork with Nigel talking about how his work is based in his experience of coming from the town. Examples of some of his paintings based on his support of Middlesbrough Football Club with him talking in voiceover about how they are developed and produced. Walking through what was Victoria Square, now Middlesbrough Central Square, Colin talks about the importance of living centrally and how his art is looking at how the town has changed since he was a child and how it will change into the future. Inside the Mosaic Dance Centre former Northern Electric tradesman Paul Longstaff takes part in a dance class alongside others much younger students. As he performs Paul talks about his love of dance and the decision he made to return to it rather than working a normal job. Outside in Exchange Square Wendy Reaney from the dance centre admires John determination to change careers and that the centre will support him as much as they can. Paul talks about the importance of dance and hopes one day to be able to teach. Wendy Reaney provides details of the kind of dance offered by the studio as well as details of subsidised dance education for those who wouldn’t normally get support. In the studio a group of girls dancing for the camera with Wendy talking about the positive support she has received from Middlesbrough Council and dance projects she has worked on in partnership with the council proving that commercial and arts partnerships can work. In a sports hall the five member of the circus and trapeze theatre group Chimaera perform a routine. One of its members, Middlesbrough born Lynn Carroll, talks about being part of the company travelling around the country to perform and to hold community circus projects. She talks about the decision to move back to Middlesbrough and to build up their community projects. Outside Lynn and two of her colleagues juggle with firesticks with Lynn standing on one of their shoulders. In voiceover Lynn talks about what she gets out of performing and about future plans for the troupe. The programme ends with the gondola on the Transporter Bridge departing and views of the town from the walkway along the top. Credit: Electricians Alan Robinson, Alan Sharp, John Mason Consultant Marshall Hall Production Co-ordinator Jennifer Chapman Sound Ken Davison, Gail Westwood, Paul Graham Graphics Dave Richardson Executive Producer for Tyne Tees Trevor Hearing Production Assistant Pauline Grant Research Catherine Hearne Music John Cook Editor Bernard Helm Camera Dave Dixon Directed and Produced by Peter Chapman Title: A Merlin Films Production for Tyne Tees Television End Title: Copyright Tyne Tees Television 1993