Gannin Shoppin’ in Shields:

North Shields Town Centre in 2025

Flourish is a project about how arts and culture organisations come together as part of a creative ‘eco-system’ at specific times in specific places.

Eco-systems are made up of all kinds of organisations, businesses and individuals, all of which interweave to create a sense of place and a feeling of community. Shops, cafes and pubs are an important part of this eco-system as they give people a reason to come to a place and an opportunity to connect with other people while they are there.

As an extension of the Flourish project, we are working with North Shields based charity Remembering the Past, Resourcing the Future on Gannin Shoppin’ in Shields: North Shields Town Centre in 2025, aiming to speak to local business owners about their experience of doing business in North Shields.

We would like to interview independent business owners in North Shields to explore the question:

How can memories of shopping and senses of heritage of place help us to imagine a better future? What do members of the local ecosystem want/expect from the town centre?

The interviews will aim to:

Understand motivations for setting up and operating in North Shields

Explore the relationship between personal memories and heritage and the decision to work in the town

Explore hopes and aspirations for the business and North Shields town centre more widely

If you are interested in taking part or would like more information, please contact Philippa Carter at philippa.carter@northumbria.ac.uk