WE SHALL BE - Navigator North

Navigator North’s WE SHALL BE is a groundbreaking community-led commissioning programme, designed to transform public spaces around Middlesbrough Railway Station in Middlesbrough – a key gateway into the town.

WE SHALL BE is the English translation of ‘Erimus’, Middlesbrough’s motto.

Architectural detail from The Royal Exchange building (demolished in 1985 to make way for the A66), featuring a representation of the town’s coat of arms and motto. This artifact featured as part of an exhibition by Navigator North at The Masham in 2021.

We are using the motto for the town as a provocation to understand what people want Middlesbrough to be, our aspirations for the place and how we might manifest that through this programme of public art commissioning and creative placemaking in the public realm.

It builds on Navigator North’s work from 2020 onwards to lead the way on creative placemaking in this part of Tees Valley, through the national Historic England funded High Street Heritage Action Zones and Know Your Neighbourhood programmes. It also aligns with and amplifies the current Most Creative Station programme produced by Navigator North with Cultural Development Funding through Arts Council England.

#YourPublicRealm Event in Exchange Square, Middlesbrough. Photo credit – Rachel Deakin

Running from February to December 2025, this exciting new project is focusing on civic pride and community spirit by developing site-specific artworks informed by collaborative thinking, place-based working, and meaningful engagement with local communities. WE SHALL BE is more than a commissioning programme; it is a movement that places the creativity and voices of Middlesbrough’s communities at its core. Together, we aim to shape public spaces that reflect the spirit, pride, and resilience of the town.

Part of the WE SHALL BE programme is acclaimed Tees Valley artist Stuart Langley who has been commissioned to create a striking new public artwork. This ambitious piece, currently in development, will incorporate donated old mobile phones as a core component of its design and collaboration with the public.

Middlesbrough College Arts & Design students visit the WE SHALL BE Public Launch event in March 2025.
Images above and below, photo credit – Rachel Deakin

Members of the public were asked to donate their old mobile phones with donation points including TransPennine Railway Stations; Middlesbrough, Thornaby, Northallerton, Thirsk, Malton, Scarborough and local community centres – Newport Community Hub and Breckon Hill Community Centre.

For programme and activity updates visit our Instagram here