In 2023, Helix Arts delivered an exciting programme of workshops in which more than 1,000 local people co-designed a permanent public artwork for North Shields town centre.
They worked with artists Aaron Li-Hill and Laura Brenchley to create collages of what North Shields means to them – past, present and future. We held sessions in local schools, pubs, community centres, and even at North Shields Football Club!
Then in 2024, Aaron create a sculpture to be situated in front of North Shields Magistrates Court. He took inspiration from the resident’s artworks and stories, and from local dancers.
Our Woven Voices represents the overwhelming spirit of togetherness and connectedness that the people who took part felt about North Shields. It’s about everyday places like chip shops, beaches and parks. The sculpture shows two dancers woven together – representing the ways people depend on each other and support each other. The dancers’ legs and arms are crossed but it’s their little fingers – the dancers told us – that kept them stable. If one little finger is removed, they said, they’d both fall over. This feels like a perfect way to think about how our communities rely on one another.
Aaron finished the sculpture on 19th June 2025.
Our Woven Voices was officially opened by the Elected Mayor of North Tyneside Karen Clark on 17th July 2025.
The commission is part of North Tyneside Council’s masterplan for North Shields.
