Green TV

Green TV is an imaginative and exciting programme of environmental engagement through the arts, raising awareness of and increasing public access to key areas of outstanding natural heritage within the Tees Valley.

Green TV is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and managed by Tees Valley Arts in partnership with local wildlife organisations. The project will place 10 artists in 20 schools exploring 10 sites over 2 years.

Green TV blog

26th July 2011

Getting green and arty

Visitors to Middlesbrough have the opportunity to the get creative and green as a part of the Green TV project at the We Are Open Pop Up Gallery on Linthorpe Road this week.

From Saturday 23rd to Sunday 31st July anybody of any age can drop into the We Are Open shop (at 148 Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough) and take part in a wide variety of free arts workshops, all with nature as an inspiration. The shop is open from 10 am – 5pm (4pm Sunday)

Different artists will be present in the shop during the week, creating environmental art using print making, drumming, sculpture, painting and drawing, and the general public can join in and get a master class from the professional artist! Images, films and animations from the Green TV project co-ordinated by Tees Valley Arts are also being shown.

These workshops and exhibition are the start of a series of environmental art workshops on wildlife sites across the Tees Valley throughout the school summer holiday – all designed to help people enjoy the outdoors in fun and arty ways. The full programme of activities are as follows:

At RSPB Saltholme (between 11—12pm)
Mon 25th, Fri 29th, Sat 30th July & Fri 5th & Sat 6th August

At Teesmouth Field Centre, Hartlepool
Mon 1st - Fri 5th August - for details call 01429264912

At Redhall Nature Reserve, Darlington
16th August - 10-11.30am & 1-2.30pm
17th August - 1 - 2.30pm
18th August - 10 -11.30am
19th August - 10-11.30am & 1-2.30pm
26th August - 1-2.30pm @ Redhall Community Centre, Darlington

At Portrack Marsh, Stockton (near Tees Barrage)
Fri 26th to Sun 28th August—10am - 4pm

Further information from Joe Dunne, Heritage & Environment Officer, Tees Valley Arts, Melrose House, Melrose Street, Middlesbrough TS1 2HZ. Tel: 01642 264970 / 264651

For Examples of Year 1 Art work see bottom of page

Quotes

Year 1 Green TV Quotes (PDF)

Teacher Quotes:

One noticeable aspect of being involved with the Green TV Project was the improved behaviour and positive attitude of a very boisterous, boy heavy class, due to the Outdoor Learning Environment They enjoyed learning new techniques in an out of classroom environment with experienced artists and environmentalists. They loved working with the natural resources found on each site – clay from the lake area at The Whinnies, leaves, flowers etc at South Burdon. During and after the Green TV Project the pupils from Year 3 felt so empowered that they took their parents to the wildlife centres to show them the art work they had done on site. They were so proud of their achievements! The parents had no idea that the sites existed on their doorstep! Now they go on family visits and the children lead the art activities for younger family members.

HeadTeacher, Gurney Pease Primary, Darlington

18 May 2011

Green TV App Launched on Android and iPhone

We're delighted to announce the availability of a new (free) application in the Android Market and Apple App Stores: Green TV.

The application is a reflection of TVA's ongoing commitment to using Arts as a platform to promote natural heritage throughout the region.

For the last 12 months we have been working with artist Paul Dolan. Paul has produced animations as a response to an exploration of The Whinnies Nature Reserve and South Burdon Community Woodland, Darlington during the Green TV project.

They are the culmination of three residencies Paul has carried out on these sites with pupils from Gurney Pease Primary and Cockerton CE Primary schools with the support of Darlington Borough Council’s Parks & Countryside Team.

Green TV is an imaginative and exciting programme of environmental engagement through the arts, raising awareness of and increasing public access to key areas of outstanding natural heritage within the Tees Valley.

Green TV is delivered by artists and wildlife partners working with teachers to help school pupils, their families and communities learn about the rich and diverse wildlife and natural heritage that can be found in the Tees Valley.

Green TV is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and managed by Tees Valley Arts in partnership with wildlife organisations. The project will place 10 artists in 20 schools exploring 10 sites over 2 years.

By installing the application on your chosen platform, you can see the work inspired in context.

The app uses your GPS coordinates to determine where you are in relation to the hotspots and by following the trail you will be prompted to view the animations, read the background information on the hotspot and flick through a collection of images that have been taken over the course of the year whilst Paul and Green TV have been working with local communities and schools.

It has been a great project and a resounding reflection of the commitment of Tees Valley Arts (and Darlington Borough Council) to new technology and embracing a new, digital audience.

To get the app on your Android handset, please visit the Market Place.
To get the app on your iPhone, please visit the App Store.

13 May 2011

Mirage appears on Coatham Marsh, Redcar

Strange things are happening on Coatham Marsh in Redcar. As part of the Green TV project, ‘Mirage’ has been made and sited on the Marsh, as artist Tony Charles’ artistic response to Coatham Marsh, the place, the wildlife and its history.

The Mirage sculpture reflects – in every sense – the surroundings of the Marsh, changing over time with weather and season, prompting visitors to look around them at what is familiar, or strange, or both, and to think about the complex natural and unnatural history of this environment.

Mirage has been developed with the help of the children of Whitecliffe Primary School in Carlin How, Westgarth Primary School in Marske and members of the Redcar and Cleveland community.

Joe Dunne, Heritage & Environment Officer at Tees Valley Arts and Green TV Project co-ordinator said “Through the Green TV project we wanted to take a fresh look at and provide some creative, innovative and enjoyable approaches to the way people engage with their local nature. I feel that Mirage reflects this in every way, not just in the piece of work on site, but also the process that happened during its conception and creation. I hope that many people come and enjoy it, but also and maybe more importantly the environment that surrounds it.”

Jeremy Garside, Chief Executive of Tees Valley Wildlife Trust said “Green TV has allowed us to experiment with completely new ways of interpreting the natural environment and to work outside our usual professional box. We are now not just thinking and talking about new ways of doing things, but actually seeing them happen.”

Visit the Sites

Maze Park, Portrack Marsh, Coatham Marsh

RSPB Saltholme

The Whinnies and South Burdon

Darlington Borough Council Parks and Countryside link

North Gare, Seal Sands

Teesmouth Field Centre link

Golden Flatts School visit to North Gare. Photo - Bob Mitchell

What is Green TV?

Year One Evaluation (PDF)

Partner Organisations

Green TV is a partnership between Tees Valley Arts (TVA) and RSPB Saltholme, Tees Valley Wildlife Trust, Teesmouth Field Centre and Darlington Council (Parks & Countryside), with support from Tees Archaeology. The project is delivered by professional community artists and conservation workers from the four partner organisations and is managed by TVA’s Heritage & Environment Officer, Joe Dunne.