Artists have worked with engineers, environmental teams, former miners, residents and young people to explore our past, present and future relationship with our marine environment and waterways. BE THE SEA,by artist Louise Mackenzie and composer Hayley Jenkins, explores our connection to wildlife and the ocean through sound and listening. Paul Dolan‘s Renewable Blue considers how heat connects people, technology and nature. Paul’s project uses infrared camera equipment that captures heat rather than visible light to go beyond the limits of human senses to better understand the climate crisis. Sound Dig (Shelly Knotts, Prof. Caroline Mitchell and Robin Daniels) invites viewers to explore sound from the past, present and future of Whitburn and discover whether we can hear through time. The installation has been developed working with residents in Whitburn.

The space also includes graphics from Zoë Allen which asks questions around our perception of sound, water and energy.

Blue Futures is a collaboration between South Tyneside Council, CoLab Sunderland, University of Sunderland, and SeaScapes, a Tyne to Tees project aimed at better-connecting communities with the ocean. Curated by Dr Suzy O’Hara, Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries, University of Sunderland.