Portrait of a Northern Beauty - Tyneside: Future?

They will still have tourists on Tyneside, won't they?

Viewing tower, Segedunum Roman Fort, Wallsend

Last in the series of portraits of my adoptive home.

The museum was all locked up on Saturday (I guess it is before the start of the season). But it did make me wonder what the future will hold for Tyneside. Newcastle City Council plans to cut the arts funding by 100% - i.e. in its entirety. This will affect many of the venues and museums in the region. A vibrant network that has developed over years and years and attracts visitors in droves to the region. And they do tend to spend money...the future is looking rather bleak - and not for the first time in this region!


For the Flash of Red February challenge - portraits without people
http://365project.org/discuss/themes-competitions/16115/flash-of-red-february

Tyneside's past:
http://365project.org/bmnorthernlight/365/2013-02-01
Tyneside's present:
http://365project.org/bmnorthernlight/365/2013-02-02

Thought this would be a good opportunity to work on my B&W skills - feedback welcome! Best viewed large on black I think.

Thank you all for the time and and all your comments on my last few shots :-)

[Julian]

Gosh I thought it must be the control tower at Newcastle Airport until I read on. Very good image.

[bmnorthernlight]

@glenmoor thanks! It is a very futuristic viewing platform, isn't it

[Ruth Moucharafieh]

Wonderful POV! lots of geometry!

[Judith Johnson]

Very sharp and clear against the sky.

[Darren Juden]

Fab shot and totally agree with Ruth about the geometry :)

[John]

Cool

[Phil]

You've done brilliantly to get it so straight and clear.
They are cutting the funding by 100%...?! How short-sighted is that?

[Alison Tomlin]

I hope it finds other ways to survive. I have an old friend who worked for (headed maybe even?) the North East arts council. He had to leave a while ago.

[Humphrey Hippo]

Love the symmetry of this.

[Netkonnexion]

Wonderful! Great lines.

[Juliette Packham]

Love this, great architectural lines and nicely edited, I love this part of the world,I hope they don't cut the purse strings to drastically

[beachradish]

Looks almost futuristic in a way ... an interesting juxtaposition to your question.

[Paula]

Kind of dramatic and foreboding! I like:)

[Myrna O'Hara]

Cool.

[Jennifer]

It certainly does look bleak. This is a great shot though. I love the pov and symmetry too.

[Netkonnexion]

Interesting PoV. Nice one.

[bmnorthernlight]

@filsie65 @sparkle @fueast Thank you ladies! yes indeed very short sighted budget cuts if you ask me. A few more people to add to the unemployment figures, including my neighbour upstairs who is now looking to relocate to London...and after the Guardian travel section had a nice blurb about some of the re-generated areas in the Ouseburn valley in Newcastle... sorry to hear about your friend's job, Alison!

[paula365]

so sad on the funding, that seems to be happening all to often.
very nice shot, i like the symmetry of it.......the clouds in the back add a bit of drama to the image

[rachel red]

Cool architectural shot. A Fav in fact. Shame about the cuts!

[summerfield]

architecture, most of the time, looks good in black and white. you're choosing your subjects well, barbara, and that in itself is a feat! your composition and point of view are always bang on. you're one of the better ones around here.

[Claire]

Very cool pov and shot; It seems the NE is heading back to the scrap heap, one step forward 3 back (again)