Leading North East architectural practice, Xsite Architecture has launched a new division specialising in artistic and cultural projects.

Xsite Culture will offer a range of services from artistic installations to set design and cultural consultancy, building on the success of recent projects such as the Salmon Trail public art scheme and the design of the forthcoming dott07 festival. The dedicated Culture team will be led by Nicola Gartland, a designer and artist who already works closely with the architectural team at Xsite.

“We have been building up the cultural consultancy side of the business for some time, both with standalone projects and in the interpretation of architectural briefs, so it seemed like a logical move to launch a standalone brand,” says Tim Bailey, principal architect at Xsite. “This will enable us to send a clear message to potential clients in both sectors, while also helping to promote the presence of artistic specialists within the team.”

Working alongside architectural assistant, Anna Hedworth, Nicola has already completed the set design and arrangement of the Novocastrian Philosopher’s Society, a unique interactive play that took place over 15 nights at Newcastle’s Literature and Philosophical Society in early September. The team is also working on Salmon Trail, a collection of artistic installations stretching from Kielder to Tynemouth, and the dott07 festival, which takes place in Baltic Square from October 16 to 28.

As a former gallery owner and the current chairman of Northern Stage, Tim is passionate about culture and the arts, especially with respect to the positive role they can play in the regeneration of the region. The Xsite Culture team will also be able to benefit from the practice’s annual participation in the Artist Placement Scheme, organised by the Arts Council, which links artists from North East university with companies in the creative industries.

“The renaissance of the North East has been primarily culture-driven and this strategy has been a huge success, providing a catalyst for wider regeneration in rural and urban areas,” says Nicola. “With Xsite Culture, we are actively seeking to promote the skills and experience that we can offer in the sector, stretching from theatrical design to the building of art galleries.”

Teams in both divisions are currently working on a number of joint projects, including the conversion of part of Spennymoor Leisure Centre into a new art gallery for the town.

Email: andy@forumcommunicate.co.uk

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