PUPILS from Sunderland schools have been working with artists to design special post boxes to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Each design is completely unique and inspired by the Queen’s connections to Sunderland. There are 12 post boxes in total, created in partnership with cultural and creative organisations across the city, and each has a hidden crown to be discovered.
The post boxes are now on display at Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens as part of the city’s celebrations to mark The Queen’s 70-year reign.
Visitors to the museum can see the following post boxes on display:
- Showstopper by Broadway Junior School working with Tommy Anderson and Sunderland Empire.
- Curtains please! by Castletown Primary School working with Benji Spence, Ruth Brickland and Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens.
- Beth’s botanical blues by Dubmire Primary Academy working with Jo Howell and Sunderland Empire.
- Whale of a garden party by Gillas Lane Primary Academy working with Jennifer Ironside and 1719.
- Qubilee, Platinum Beatles by Newbottle Primary Academy working with Rhonda Fenwick and Sunderland Empire.
- Now then (2022) by Redby Academy working with Pui Lee and 1719.
- Counting the pennies By Richard Avenue Primary School working with Kerry Cook-The Art Room and Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens.
- Jubilee Tea Party by Valley Road Primary Academy working with Kerry Cook-The Art Room and Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens.
- Congregate by Redby Academy working with Benji Spence, Ruth Brickland and 1719.
- Q’Odyssey by Hudson Road Primary School working with Zubin Thomas and YAV 1-2-Youth Crew, YAV Juniors, YAV OV (Our Voice) girls.
- Sartaaj by Hudson Road Primary School working with Zubin Thomas and YAV 1-2-Youth Crew, YAV Juniors, YAV OV (Our Voice) girls.
- The Majestic Grandeur by Hudson Road Primary School working with Zubin Thomas and YAV 1-2-Youth Crew, YAV Juniors, YAV OV (Our Voice) girls.
Councillor Linda Williams, Cabinet Member for Vibrant City at Sunderland City Council, said: “It is fantastic to have been able to create this opportunity for schoolchildren from across Sunderland to team up with the city’s creative and cultural organisations and artists to create something so special to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
“Culture and heritage is really important to us and has a key role to play in the city’s development across all of our communities. I know the young people will have had a lot of fun creating these post boxes, and I hope visitors to the museum will enjoy seeing them here – and finding the hidden crowns – when they visit the city centre.”
The project, organised by Sunderland Cultural Education Partnership and funded through the European Regional Development Fund’s Welcome Back project, will be on display at the Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens until 2 July.
The Museum and Winter Gardens will be open 10am–4pm, Monday–Sunday.
The Welcome Back Fund project received £554,670 from the European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth programme 2014-20. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund. Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations.
For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding.