The People's Plinth at the Farrell Centre
Do you have an object that helps tell the story of Tyneside?
23 March 2023
Do you have an object that helps tell the story of Tyneside?
The objects we keep and surround ourselves with tell stories about who we are, where we’ve come from and who we want to be. These objects are personal to each of us, but also frequently speak to shared and collective experiences over years, decades or even centuries. Together, these objects offer a snapshot of Tyneside as it was, as it is, and as it might become.
At the Farrell Centre we think these objects can help us understand the city in new ways, bringing to the fore lost or forgotten moments in our history, while allowing us to see the familiar from different perspectives. That’s why we’re creating the People’s Plinth where we will bring together objects owned by people across Tyneside to put on public display.
We need your help
We’re asking the people of Tyneside to rummage through their attics, sift through family memorabilia and comb their photo albums to find objects to put on the plinth.
We are looking for objects that are very precious but also the seemingly unremarkable, objects that were made to last and those that were not, objects pulled from various moments of Tyneside’s history and together will trace how it has evolved and the people, events and ideas that have shaped it.
These might include photos, newspaper clippings, ticket stubs, furniture, works of art, clothes, books, diaries, letters, toys, models, maps, even fragments of buildings – anything and everything that helps tell the story of Tyneside.
If you have an object that fits the bill, send photos of it and a short paragraph explaining why you think it should be included to hello@farrellcentre.org.uk
About the plinth
The People’s Plinth is designed by the architecture studio CAN. It will be located in a shopfront directly adjacent to the Farrell Centre’s entrance on Eldon Place and will be visible to the public 24/7. The plinth is built from aluminium scaffolding poles and Stormboard panels, which are made from recycled plastic. Rather than the single platform of a conventional plinth, the People’s Plinth has multiple levels and surface is thus able to accommodate a range of objects – both 3D and 2D – simultaneously. While showcasing and celebrating individual objects, the People’s Plinth aims to encapsulate the collective experience, giving voice to the many different histories and perspectives that make up Tyneside.
