BEST EVENT TEES VALLEY

Jan 30 2009 The Journal

On the final day of our week-long series showcasing the Best Event short-lists for our Culture Awards, Barbara Hodgson turns the spotlight on Tees Valley.

OVER the past four days we’ve been inviting you to play a part in our 2008 awards by voting for a Best Event across the region. Here are Tees Valley’s top three events which made the final short-list.

BAUHAUS EXHIBITION @ mima

THE first major Bauhaus exhibition in the UK for 40 years – since the Royal Academy’s 50-year anniversary exhibition in 1968 – drew a huge amount of interest in the Middlesbrough gallery, including from Chinese and Russian publications.

Bauhaus 1919-1933, about the post-First World War movement which signalled a new look and new social order in Germany, took over mima for several weeks until February 17, attracting more than 45,000 visitors and selling 70% of its catalogues.

From familiar Bauhaus-designed chairs, through photographs of original Bauhaus buildings as they are now, to objects, vessels, models and textiles, it was a realisation of the gallery’s vision to display some of the best in art and craft and trace a path through history and across art forms.

It was the result of collaboration with museums and galleries in Berlin and London. And bringing it up to date was a contemporary display – Language of Vision – showing work by Bauhaus-inspired contemporary artists.

The local Barker and Stonehouse store even joined in by hosting a display of Bauhaus-inspired furniture.

It was part of the culture¹º festivals and events programme managed by NewcastleGateshead Initiative.

The Observer newspaper said of it: “A museum-class show and this is a first-class museum.”

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