A North Tyneside-based creative health charity that works with communities across North Tyneside, Northumberland, Newcastle and South Tyneside, will be presenting an exhibition in The Bridge Gallery, Tynemouth Metro Station, to commemorate the 1926 General Strike.

North Tyneside Art Studio (NTAS), a leading advocate of the arts in the region for mental health and well-being, is working with Wisecrack Productions – whose play The Cramlington Train Wreckers is transferring to Newcastle Theatre Royal in July.

The notorious event, which saw the Flying Scotsman inadvertently derailed by striking miners in Cramlington during the General Strike 100 years ago, resulted in eight miners being sentenced to 48 years’ penal servitude despite no-one dying in the controversial incident and only one person being slightly injured.

More than 30 people from NTAS will participate and contribute to the thought-provoking exhibition that will include large scale banners depicting individual and group responses to the story through painting and textiles.

placeholder image — Two of the images from the exhibition.

Jess Kinnersley, NTAS creative support worker and project lead, said: “This exciting exhibition is being developed by our members looking for a connection to the event and how the universal themes of community and connection matter as much today as they did 100 years ago.

“We’ve been hosting weekly workshops for the past two months, exploring the story and using the theme ‘Broken Lines’, which helps people focus not only on the physical act of breaking the train lines but also, importantly, the human elements of the story (human struggles, lives changed and communities divided).”

Broken Lines is a public exhibition and will run for four weeks from Sunday, June 27, to Sunday, July 12, in the The Bridge Gallery, Tynemouth Metro Station.

Paul Hillier, NTAS chief executive officer, said: “The Cramlington Train Wreckers project gives our community a unique opportunity to explore creativity at scale, build friendships and confidence, and support positive mental health and well-being.

“Tens of thousands of people will see the display. We hope it will stimulate discussions on the impact creativity has on mental health.”

NTAS is currently located at Newcastle Quays Retail Park in North Shields, but will soon move into their new permanent space in Longbenton.

Anyone interested in finding out more about NTAS is welcome to contact them by calling 07586 821804 or emailing [email protected]