Angel sculptor takes new art role

The Angel of the North has a 56m wingspan

The man who created the towering Angel of the North at Gateshead has been recruited to work with young artists in the North East.

Antony Gormley will collaborate with five young artists and 60 sixth form students on a public art project.

Mr Gormley is best-known for his steel sculpture which features a wingspan greater than a Boeing 767.

Senior figures in the art world have welcomed the involvement of such a "hugely popular" artist in the project.

Antony Gormley is "hugely popular" in the region

Mr Gormley's involvement in the year-long project, run by the Northumberland-based Samling Foundation, has been made possible by a £116,790 grant.

The money has come from the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA).

Its education director Gareth Binns said: "We are delighted that such a world-renowned artist such as Antony Gormley will mentor a new generation of artists."

The project, named Arena, will give youngsters from schools in Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Gateshead and Sunderland the opportunity to think about the concept of public art.

Culture bid

They will explore such themes as how art relates to public spaces, including housing estates, roads and even railways.

The Baltic contemporary art centre, at Gateshead, will also be involved.

"It is one of our key aims to nurture and support creativity in young people and I am confident that Arena will ignite and unearth some truly imaginative work and talent," Mr Binns said.

Andrew Dixon, regional executive director of Northern Arts, said: "The Arena project is a real boost towards the ambitions of Newcastle-Gateshead's bid for European Capital for Culture in 2008."