Laing to London to Celebrate North East Art with LNER
30 January 2024
LNER, one of the primary train operators on the East Coast mainline, is supporting an event to celebrate North East art being displayed at 10 Downing Street following the announcement that Laing Art Gallery is the Number 10 Museum in Residence for 2024.
London North Eastern Railway (LNER) is providing travel for Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums staff to get to the capital and back in a day to host the event.
As Number 10 Museum in Residence, nine artworks from the Laing are on display at 10 Downing Street until October 2024 and will be seen by leaders and important guests from around the world, exposing a new audience to the arts and heritage of the North East.
The Number 10 Museum in Residence programme has been organised by the Government Art Collection for the past 20 years, showcasing work from around the United Kingdom.
Paintings in the display include a large oil painting by Edward Dickey, depicting the iconic Tyne Bridge mid-construction, and Caravans, Figures and Helter Skelter, a work from 1930 by Byron Dawson that shows a scene from the long-running travelling fair The Hoppings, which sets up on the Town Moor annually. There are also several mid-20th-century works by figures associated with the region’s progressive art schools such as graduates of King’s College (now Newcastle University).
Keith Merrin, Director of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums, said:
“We’re very excited about the Laing Art Gallery being Number 10 Museum in Residence and the opportunity this provides to promote the outstanding art, culture and heritage in North East England.
“A big thank you to LNER for getting us to and from the event in a day and for supporting our event at 10 Downing Street to help us share the impact of culture in the North East.”
