The city as a playground

Exhibitions and Festivals

Jonathan Yeo Portraits at the Laing Art Gallery

Shown until 15 Feb 2015

One of world’s leading portrait artist, known internationally for his portraits on celebrities such as Sienna Miller, Kevin Spacey and Stephen Fry.

Skating@Life

Until 22 February

Visit Newcastle’s only outdoor ice rink at the Centre for Life before it’s too late!

Maker Faire UK, International Centre for Life

25 – 26 April 2015

A global, family friendly festival of invention and creativity, bringing together more than 300 hackers, crafters and inventors, with exhibitors including staff and students from Northumbria University.

Game On 2.0, International Centre for Life

23 May – 1 November celebrating their contribution to the city.”

Dr Michael Jeffries, Sebastian Messer and Dr Jon Swords, from Engineering and Environment, recently published, Playing Outdoors: The Importance of the City as a Playground for Skateboarding and Parkour. This research looks at skateboarders as aspirational figures - ‘everything society wishes young people could be’ – and challenges the approach of various city councils across the country who created skate parks on the outskirts of cities, to deter skaters from the city centre.

The research also found that skaters add to the social capital of the cityscape, with suggestions of authorities working alongside skaters to sustain their scene as a positive benefit to city regeneration. With many skaters showing true entrepreneurial interest in creative industries such as video and photography, it has also been suggested that perhaps this could create a cool, youthful buzz which so many cities crave as part of regeneration.

Big

Fresh Quiz of the Week

Every Sunday, 8pm, entry £1 Sundays are all about chilling out and relaxing with your mates and what better place to be than in Habita with the chance to win some mega cash prizes.

St Patrick’s Day

Tuesday 17 March

All day party. Join us for some refreshments…

Karaoke

Never mind The Voice – Thursday nights are karaoke night. Step up to the mic!

Soul & Funk Fridays @ Habita

Featuring new and old skule hits and Perez the Bongo man.

Tyneside Reborn – The Rt Hon the Lord Heseltine CH

10 March 2015

1pm – 2pm, The Great Hall, Sutherland Building, City Campus West. Refreshments available from 12.30pm

What’s gender got to do with it? – Effecting Change through Gendered Disaster Risk Reduction – Professor Maureen Fordham

29 April 2015

Professor of Gender and Disaster Resilience, Northumbria University Maureen Fordham was a founding member of the Gender and Disaster Network and advises on gender and disaster policy within the United Nations.

From Sonic to Samus, Mario to Minecraft, Game On 2.0 is the world’s biggest collection of playable computer games from the past 60 years.

Gallery

Frans Widerberg: The Art of Re-Enchantment

6 February – 2 April 2015

Widerberg, the spiritual descendant of Munch, unleashes upon an unsuspecting world images bathed in blazing light. This is a light which as pure as energy seems to propel a series of extraordinary dramas.

Peter Lanyon: The Mural Studies

10 April – 22 May 2015

Louise Bourgeois: Autobiographical Series

18 April – 22 May 2015

Dr Jon Swords, Programme Leader for BA Geography, said: “There is often a complete misunderstanding of the skateboard community, but despite preconceived ideas, skaters are in fact a valuable part of our society. They are sociable as they learn how to interact with friends; entrepreneurial, often running their own competitions, and are generally, very healthy and active people. Instead of trying to restrict skaters, local authorities should be

Dr Michael Jeffries, teaching fellow in the Department of Geography, added: “It is easy to mistake skaters as a problem, but they are in fact an important part of a city, with the vast majority of skaters very respectful of the areas in which they use.” northumbria.ac.uk/geography

For more information on these and other events in the area, visit www.newcastlegateshead.com/whats-on