A new exhibition at South Shields Museum tells the proud story of shipbuilding and ship repair in South Tyneside.
The exhibition called Pushing the Boat Out celebrates the importance of shipbuilding and ship repair to the riverside communities of South Shields, Jarrow and Hebburn, where thousands were once employed in an industry for which the Tyne had a reputation of excellence the world over.
A flotilla of exquisitely detailed ship models, including loans from the National Maritime Museum, will be on show alongside shipyard workers’ tools of the trade and many nostalgic photographs. Artworks by Peter Burns, a former shipyard plater, will be paired with a new series by the renowned South Shields artist Robert Olley, inspired by shipyard trades, and on show for the first time.
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The exhibition will also share the personal stories of people who were involved in shipbuilding and ship repair, following on from a major oral history project to capture memories of life in the yards and docks of South Tyneside.
Geoff Woodward, Museum Manager: “This very special exhibition provides a unique opportunity to celebrate the proud story of shipbuilding, ship repair and associated industries in South Tyneside. We’d like to express our thanks to everyone who contributed to the exhibition.”
The exhibition runs until November 12. For full details of opening times, events, and facilities available, visit the website.
South Shields Museum & Art Gallery holds extensive collections of local art by artists portraying the area. The collection dates from 1873 when the former Mechanics Institute building reopened as South Shields' first free public library.
The museum today occupies the whole of the former library building, and the fine art collection consists of around 500 items, including works by nationally recognised artists such as Charles Napier Hemy ('The Last Boat In'), Thomas Sidney Cooper, ('The Approaching Storm') and Harold Harvey ('Blackberrying').
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