Middlesbrough showcases artistic regeneration effort

An artwork is once again lighting up the Middlesbrough night skyline.

Local artist Stuart Langley’s 35-metre Beating Heart has returned as a permanent feature on Church House, one of the tallest buildings in the town centre. The tower block’s windows have been transformed by an animated LED matrix programmed to make a beating heart sequence every evening after dusk.

Beating Heart has previously been shown in Leeds, Manchester and London, and proved a hit in Middlesbrough as part of last year’s Middlesbrough Art Weekender. The work will form a playful backdrop to key moments in Middlesbrough’s cultural sector which is already playing a major role in the town’s regeneration.

It’s a potent symbol of the Council’s commitment to placing art and culture at the heart of the town’s regeneration as it bids for city status in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year.

A key strand of Middlesbrough’s city bid focuses on the positive impact of creativity on lives and livelihoods and in changing perceptions of places that may have been previously overlooked.

While currently 30 per cent of the population of Middlesbrough live in areas ranked among the 10 per cent most deprived in England, the town has been highlighted for its potential for regeneration. It has received funding from Historic England, Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England to support the regeneration of the town.

Stuart Langley said: “As a proud Teesside-based artist, I’m thrilled to have Beating Heart permanently installed in Middlesbrough.

“By filling disused space with such a dynamic artwork, I hope to visualise the energy and ambition of the town centre and its people, and spread some positivity in the meantime.”

Charlotte Nicol, Middlesbrough Council’s Head of Culture, added: “Beating Heart will be an amazing addition to Middlesbrough’s skyline.

“Our town centre is undergoing a transformation and we’re determined to put the arts and culture at the forefront. The stunning image of the Beating Heart was the perfect introduction to our city status bid because it showcases our town’s love of art.”