A 30-foot mural has been unveiled at the new LMA Newcastle campus, which is set to open in September. The artwork, created by local artists Peter Manning (Prefab77) and Jimmy Turrell, adorns a building on St James' Boulevard and was commissioned by Creative Central NCL in partnership with LMA.
Artists Celebrate Creativity and Community
The mural aims to celebrate creativity and community in an area becoming a hub for both. LMA principal Deni Chambers praised the result, saying: "We absolutely love it. It’s bold, creative and has a real Newcastle edge to it - and to see the finished piece here alongside our new campus makes September suddenly feel very close."
Upon opening, the campus will offer industry-led creative degrees in music, film and TV production, acting, dance, and business, with students gaining practical experience, involvement in live projects, and direct industry connections.
Local Artists on Public Art's Impact
Jimmy Turrell, known for bold graphic work in music, fashion, and publishing, said: "It’s always special creating work in Newcastle. You approach a piece differently when it’s somewhere you know, somewhere you walk past and somewhere that’s part of your own city." He added that there is a lot happening creatively in Newcastle and hoped the piece adds to that.
Prefab77, who has created large-scale murals worldwide, said: "Jimmy and I both have international careers but we’re from, and based in, this region so having opportunities to create work like this here really matters. Public art can completely change the way people see a space. This was a fairly anonymous wall before and now it has an identity."
Creative Central's Ongoing Programme
Creative Central has commissioned more than 30 street art projects across the city over the past two years. Project manager Vix Leaney called the mural "a brilliant example" of its programme, which aims to create opportunities and paid work for artists. She said LMA's arrival adds "another important piece to that story."
The LMA team has been forging local connections through partnerships, free workshops, and efforts to attract leading figures in music, TV, film, dance, and performance. Creative Central is funded by the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority and Newcastle City Council, with the mural project supported through UK Government Shared Prosperity Funding.
