Middlesbrough Council’s highly successful training scheme has so far seen 80% of participants go into employment, further training or self employment and the project has been enthusiastically received by shoppers – doubling its annual income target within its first 2 terms of trading.
Gallery TS1 was initiated by Middlesbrough Council’s Cultural Services, and Juliet Farrar, who brought the idea from similar Birmingham & Chicago models, says of its success:
“This is a great opportunity for young people to contribute to the regeneration of the town and demonstrate their creative talents whilst learning new skills. Owning a piece of GalleryTS1 jewellery, a t-shirt or print is becoming cult in Middlesbrough – It’s a chance for people to own something unique and specially created.”
This time round, the gallery will be offering;
- Unique digital photography Valentines cards and prints.
- High-Quality Silver Jewellery – Ideal for that special Valentine Gift.
- Hand Painted Pictures to order – bring an image (maybe of you and your partner?) and we will recreate the image on canvass!
Gallery will re-open for two weeks, Wed 8th Feb – Sat 18th Feb, 10am – 4pm, Closed on Sundays and Mondays. (57 Corporation Road, opposite Middlesbrough Empire)
Gallery TS1 is managed by Mike McGrother of Tees Valley Arts who said of the forthcoming re-opening, “it’s really exciting to see how well the Gallery is doing – both in terms of sales and in terms of the effect on young people’s lives. Connexions’ Kick Start programme has been referring loads of young people to us who really benefit from a process and product based training and to see them go on to bigger and better things is absolutely fantastic. For many, this is the first opportunity to show what a positive contribution they can make to their town and we should be shouting from the roof tops about their talents and commitment”.
Gallery TS1 will operate up until 18th February, and will then re-open in early March– again with new trainees and new art forms.
For further details, please contact Tees Valley Arts on 01642 264651