Sunderland has never hosted the Tall Ships Race before although Newcastle has hosted it 3 times; however Sunderland was once able to boast the title of biggest shipbuilding port in the World.
The people of Sunderland are very proud of this heritage and it is anticipated that the arrival of the Tall Ships will see up to 2 million visitors coming to the area.
Excitement is already being generated and the council are spending millions on improving and developing the infrastructure and creative zones in the City.
The income generated in Newcastle during the Tall Ships Race in 2005 was close to £50 million so although it is a huge event all over the World, it is known to be particularly loved by the people of the North East.
This is a very personal project to me as I was a sail trainee on the Tall Ships Race in 1993 sailing from Newcastle to Bergen (Norway) on the STS Sir Winston Churchill.
This changed my life in terms of building my confidence and understanding teambuilding and since 1993 I have acted as liaison officer for the Tall Ships Race in Newcastle in 2005, Hartlepool 2010 and Blyth Regatta 2016.
In 2018 on the day the Tall Ships arrive into Sunderland it will be exactly 25 years since I joined the Sir Winston Churchill.
I intend to produce a coffee table style book, a kind of visual bible split into 3 sections - the shipbuilding heritage of Sunderland and the surrounding area; the history of the Tall Ships Race and the experiences of past and present sail trainees.
The book will comprise mainly of my own illustrations but will also feature my own photographs of past Tall Ships Races right up to the Race finale in Poland in August 2017.
I’m currently acting as sail trainee ambassador and working with Sunderland council to encourage young people to sign up as trainees on the first leg from Sunderland to Esjberg in Denmark.
Initial reactions to this proposal from local people and bookshops has been incredibly positive which makes me realise the timing of the launch of my exhibition and book is crucial.
It is very relevant to what is going on in the region in the next year, including Sunderland’s bid for Capital of Culture 2021
I need to have the book published by June 2018 so that it is available to the public in time for the ships arriving.
Washington Arts Centre have already confirmed a date for a post race exhibition from 2nd August 2018 to 1st September 2018 which means the need to apply for funding to help me see this project through to completion is vital.
Even after an incredible amount of work and bid writing I came up against many brick walls trying to secure funding through different organisations including the Arts Council and HLF - one even said they struggled to see the artistic content in my work(!!) so I took the difficult decision to try to fund this myself through the help of friends and family - this is why I am asking you all to help me to see this project through to completion.
If I reach £6k that will help me to fund all the exhibitions I plan!
Thank you to everyone for all of your support!
Naomi
