WALKER FEST
An arts festival for and by the young people of Walker.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Walker Fest was an artist residency commissioned by Newcastle Arts Development Team in collaboration with the Walker Workers network.
This is a community arts project that was set out to investigate young people’s hopes and dreams for Walker Park and act as a first step in a wider effort to make the park a safe place for all.
Mustard Stories ran workshops at four different youth clubs, The Bostey, YMCA, Kids Kabin and Company of Others, in Walker from October 2025 to February 2026.
Our work with the youth groups culminated in a free arts festival in Walker Park during the half term. The young people led the planning, preparation, decoration and art work to be displayed at Walker Fest. The day was a celebration of the people of Walker, bringing young people and families together in the heart of the park.
This group poem was created in our time collaborating with Company of Others and connecting with senior students of WYPD. It was translated for our french participants.
The piece of artwork accompanying this poem was a response by artist, Esme Kelley.
Esme was our student placement for this artist residency and played a key role in the facilitation of this project. This poem and artwork is now displayed in the Central Park Cafe in Walker Park.
The Sunrise Banner
The idea behind this artwork came from the cohort of young people at Kids Kabin. We wanted to create something to inspire hope for the future of Walker Park.
These types of banners are often used in parades as a symbol of pride and that is a big part of what we set out to achieve in this project - pride in Walker and pride in the park.
As the project progressed more and more young people from other groups contributed squares to this banner. At Walker Fest, we had an activity table where attendees could make their own personalised festivals banners.
In the centre of the sunrise is the final line of the poem My Walker written by Walker Youth Dance Project.
The Walker Fest Letters
The young people at YMCA in Walker were keen to truly give Walker Fest that festival feel. They focused their creativity in our time with them in designing and making the Walker Fest letters to be displayed.
The YMCA wanted the design of these letters to reflect both their interests and what they love about their home in Newcastle such as nature, music, individuality and the black and white army.
The Skate Park Stage
We pitched up our stage for Walker Fest in the Skate Park outside the central cafe. This space is often used by young people and it made sense for the main action of the day to take place there.
During the project we hosted a drop in for the young people who use the park on a night, those we met shared their interest in Makina and MCing so we listened.
Our stage was hosted by MC Drop Dead Fred accompanied DJ A.D.S and throughout day, we had a DJ set, karaoke and we ended the festival with MCing from both Fred and the young local lads.
The Event Team
One of our goals with this project was to seek out and champion young people to be representatives of both their youth groups and their community. At the YMCA, we had two young people who volunteered to speak at the festival. It was very important for us to have their voices heard as a part of the day.
The senior group at The Bostey were integral to the planning side of our the festival day. The focused their efforts in creative the site map, designing volunteer t-shirts and lanyards and important signage.
“We want the park to feel welcoming to everyone and we hope the festival is the start of that. The YMCA is a fun and safe place and that’s what we want for the park”
— Maddie and Syan
Creative Team
Project Leads Eilis McGowan and Natasha Haws
Project Support Elijah Young
Student Placement Esme Kelley
Community Partners The Bostey, YMCA, Kids Kabin and Company of Others
Photography Ellen Dixon
Commissioned by Newcastle Arts Development Team, Newcastle City Council
Supported by Ali Pritchard and Andrew Rothwell