NewBridge Gallery is now closed until Friday 16 October.
You can join us on 5 September and 3 October for Saturday Social. You can still shop NewBridge Books throughout the weekdays!
Newcastle-based artists Alia Gargum and Jakarin Shah have been selected to take part in Co-Act, a new artist development programme at The NewBridge Project for socially-engaged artists, supported by Jerwood Foundation.
Over the next 18 months Alia and Jakarin will be supported to develop their practices, with a focus on food stories, conversation and bringing together local diasporic communities.
Co-Act creates space to explore the process-led and relational work of organising with groups of people and working within communities. Alia and Jakarin will develop collaborative and socially engaged ways of working, exploring new approaches and digging into the politics and ethics of working other people.
Tailored to Alia and Jakarin’s needs and interests, the programme will include regular meet ups, workshops, peer-led learning, and opportunities to shadow experienced artists, alongside wrap-around support from an artist mentor and the NewBridge team. Alia and Jakarin will be supported to develop a new artwork or project, which will be made public towards the end of the Co-Act programme in 2027.
“We are excited for Alia and Jakarin to build on the groundwork of collaborative, community-led and socially engaged activity at NewBridge; and to support them to test out new ideas, develop relationships and projects that expand beyond our neighbourhood in Shieldfield, whether working with the community group Gopshop created by and for Bangladeshi women in the West End of Newcastle or using food as vehicle to bring together communities who have experienced displacement. We’re thrilled to support their rich, care and conversation-oriented practices and look forward to welcoming you to public workshops later in the year!”
– Frances Stacey, Programme Director
Alia Gargum is a British-Libyan artist who creates sculpture, sound, installations, and events through an exploration of politics, culture and heritage. Alia’s work explores power dynamics that echo into personal relationships, with a focus on the history and power structure of Southwest Asia and North Africa.
Jakarin Shah is a proud Brown Muslim Geordie artist who uses creativity to nurture wellbeing. Her art sparks meaningful conversations around social justice, colour, connection, and shared human experience. Shah took part in The Collective Studio at NewBridge in 2025, a development programme for early career artists.
Established in 1977 for John Jerwood MC (1918-1991) by Alan Grieve CBE (1928-2025), Jerwood Foundation is a UK charity committed to supporting excellence and emerging talent in the arts in the UK. Alan Grieve served as Chairman for over 30 years and was appointed Chairman Emeritus in 2023, when Rupert Tyler was appointed Chairman. The organisation is led by Lara Wardle, Executive Director and Trustee and to date Jerwood Foundation has committed over £113 million to support the arts in the UK.
Jerwood Foundation owns the Jerwood Collection of modern and contemporary art, and an important part of Jerwood’s philanthropic mission is delivered by the Collection through its loaning programme and promotion of a broader understanding, interpretation and enjoyment of art. Also included in the Jerwood group of organisations is Jerwood Space, which was Jerwood’s first major capital project when established by Jerwood Foundation in Southwark in 1998. Jerwood Space is a dedicated rehearsal space providing theatre, musical theatre, opera and dance companies with an outstanding environment within which to create their work.
Co-Act is a new artist development programme for socially engaged artists, supported by Jerwood Foundation.
The NewBridge Project is a charity, registered charity no. 1173849.
We are grateful to our funders, including Arts Council England, Newcastle City Council, Garfield Weston Foundation, Jerwood Foundation, Community Foundation North East, Newcastle University and the The North East Mayoral Strategic Authority.
We are proud to be a Gallery of Sanctuary.
