The Tall Ships' Races 2005 will attract visitors by land and by sea this summer and some are expected to be scarier than others!
Sea monsters, mermaids and seahorses are gathering in Gateshead classrooms to prepare their monster welcome for the Tall Ships' crews when they sail into the region on 26 July.
Gateshead school children are putting the sea creatures together to mark the launch of Leviathan - a Gateshead Council programme of more than 30 community events to celebrate and support The Tall Ships' Races 2005, a major highlight of the region's 2005 Alive International Festival of Rivers and the Sea.
Pupils from Emmaville Primary School put the finishing touches to their sea monster with the help of artist Jane Gower and Pete Shaw from art organisation Makers and Shakers today, (Wednesday 25 May), as part of the Neptune's Arc of Friendship project.
A mythical sea monster, Leviathan was also the name of a ship at the Battle of Trafalgar captained by Commander Trotter who is buried in St Mary's Churchyard in Oakwellgate, Gateshead - now better known as Gateshead Visitor Centre. This year marks the bi-centenary anniversary of the battle.
Throughout the summer, Leviathan will bring together local artists, voluntary groups, amateur organisations and schools in more than 30 activities and events centred on the sea and Gateshead's rich maritime heritage.
Councillor John McElroy, cabinet member for culture at Gateshead Council, said: "Hosting The Tall Ships' Races 2005 is a major coup for NewcastleGateshead and we were keen to build on this and develop a programme of work at a community level that will creatively inspire and mean something to local people and spread the energy and excitement of the race throughout the borough.
"Leviathan offers local people of all ages and abilities the chance to contribute to and be a part of the Tall Ships festival and supports the talented art organisations and artists we have in the borough that may not normally have had the opportunity to be involved in such a high profile event.
"Leviathan continues our commitment to using cultural excellence as a springboard for dramatic change and regeneration - changing perceptions of Gateshead and instilling renewed pride and confidence in local people in the place where they live."
The programme includes artist-led workshops, exhibitions, talks and events and many of the activities are free. Leviathan has also given funding to six amateur organisations to support the work they do in the community.
With their sea monster complete, Emmaville Primary School are set to join pupils from three other Gateshead schools for the welcome in July St Joseph's RC Primary, Ravensworth Terrace Primary and Sacred Heart RC Primary Schools - and schools from Newcastle. The pupils will also present each ship with a hand-painted flag as a good luck token to take on the next leg of the journey.
The school workshop marked the launch of Leviathan, a programme of more than 30 community events and activities, organised by Gateshead Council and part of Gateshead's involvement in The Tall Ships' Races 2005, a major highlight of the region's 2005 Alive International Festival of Rivers and the Sea.
Makers and Shakers are a collective group of artists and performers based in West Gateshead. Established since 1995, the company runs community projects as well as producing commissioned artworks. Previous projects include sculptures for the Great North Run 2003, Il Pagliacci on Baltic Square and Hampton Court Flower Show.
Leviathan is a programme of community activities organised by Gateshead Council to enable local people to be more involved in The Tall Ships' Races 2005 and celebrate Gateshead's involvement.
Below is a taster of the Leviathan programme.
Tuesday 31 May & Saturday 11 June What Floats Your Boat Workshops
Join arts organisation Makers and Shakers to make a flag about your hopes and dreams. The results will be shown in an exhibition on Baltic Square, Gateshead on Sunday 24 July.
31 May - Bill Quay Farm, Hanningwood Terrace, Bill Quay. Noon to 4pm, free.
Saturday 11 & Saturday 25 June & Saturday 9 July Proggy mat workshops with Ali Rhind. Gateshead Visitor Centre, St Mary's Church, Oakwellgate. 11.00am - 2.00pm Tel 0191 477 5380 to book a place
Saturday 4 June Northumbrian Pipes Workshop with Dave Shaw Gateshead Visitor Centre, St Mary's Church, Oakwellgate 10.30am - 4.30pm Tel 0191 477 5380 to book a place Friday 15 July to Sunday 9 October
Flotilla!
An installation of handmade boats made from glass, wood, stone or ceramics. The boats will be suspended from the balconies of Gateshead Visitor Centre. Artists include Paul Scott, Cate Watkinson, Lip Lee, Gilbert Ward, Marcia Ley and Karen Rann. Gateshead Visitors Centre, St Mary's Church, Oakwellgate, Gateshead Tel 0191 477 5380
Saturday 16 July
Songs of Tide & Tyne A selection of music to celebrate the flavour of the water with Low Fell Singers. Gateshead Visitor Centre, St Mary's Church, Oakwellgate 2.30pm, £3 Tel 0191 477 5380
20 July Trotter and Trafalgar Gateshead's very own naval hero, Commander William John Trotter, is buried in the graveyard of St Mary's Church. Discover more about his life and times and about the part he played in the Battle of Trafalgar. Gateshead Visitor Centre, St Mary's Church, Oakwellgate 7.00pm, £2.00 Tel 0191 477 5380
Sunday 24 July, 24 August & 18 September Headlines from History Who lived on Gateshead quayside? Join us on a heritage walk through the amazing, seedy, violent and heroic history of Gateshead Quayside. 11.00am and 2.00pm, £2 Gateshead Visitor Centre, St Mary's Church, Oakwellgate Tel 0191 477 5380
29 July Jazz at the Fell.
An evening of traditional jazz, with the River City Jazz Men and nationally known guest musician John Hallam. Gateshead Fell Cricket Club 7pm, £4 Tel 0191 262 3735
Saturday 6th August, 13th August, 20th August & 27th August Quilting workshops with Jenny Burns. Shipley Art Gallery, Prince Consort Road, Gateshead 1pm - 4pm Tel 0191 477 1495
Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th September Northumbrian pipes weekend workshops with Dave Shaw. Gateshead Visitors Centre, St Mary's Church, Oakwellgate, Gateshead Tel 0191 477 5380 to book a place.
