Enjoy the exhibition at Preston Park Museum & Grounds now.
The River Tees runs through the heart of the Tees Valley, connecting local communities in both work and leisure.
This exhibition was created by artists and young people living in the Tees Valley. All artworks and creative writing have been created by them, in response to environmental issues linked to the river.
I have learnt that we can turn anything into art, even RUBBISH! And you can turn anything bad to good.
I have learnt that we can make our world a better place by recycling.
My favourite part was when we saw the end result, it shocked us all!
I have learnt that the river is in danger!
Students visited Preston Park Museum & Grounds to learn about the history of the river, how it has changed the local landscape and about the impact it has had on the lives of the people living nearby.
The class then worked with artist Bub Bacon, on a vibrant large sculpture of the river, using recycled materials collected from home. This work has been used in the schools application for Eco-Schools Green Flag accreditation.
Students at Darlington College visited the Tees Barrage and Preston Park Museum & Grounds. On site they saw and learned about the river, taking photographs of the two sites and creating artworks inspired by what they had learnt during the visits.
Students at Darlington College visited the Tees Barrage and Preston Park Museum & Grounds. On site they saw and learned about the river, taking photographs of the two sites and creating artworks inspired by what they had learnt during the visits.
Thor Class at South Bank Primary School learnt about the wildlife that lives in and along the course of the Tees.
Curlews with their long beaks and distinctive call have a very special relationship with the river, travelling its length to breed on the moorlands of Upper Teesdale in Spring, and returning to spend the winter by the estuarine mud.
KS2 children from High Clarence Primary School have worked with artist Bub Bacon to look at the bridges around their area that span the River Tees. They have looked closely at the different shapes and designs of the bridges and their different uses. The children’s school overlooks the transporter bridge and have been so eager to share their knowledge of the bridges and to help Bub to create their own recycled bridges.
Displayed at Preston Park as part of the Recycling the River Tees Exhibition
The exhibition which explores recreational activity on the river includes stories of river users, alongside items from the museum collection which once belonged to the Tees Rowing Club.
We have been working with local schools and colleges to create artworks for display in Tees Valley Museums. The artworks have been inspired by the River Tees and explore the environmental impact of industry on the river.
During this project we looked at the history of the river, using objects artwork from our museum collections.
So many young people have been involved in shaping this exhibition. They have responded creatively to develop the exhibition you can see today on display. Listen to their stories here.
