Stuart Forster, a professional photographer from North East England, shows Great Exhibition of the North photography.

The Great Exhibition of the North opened in Newcastle and Gateshead, in north-east England, on 22 June 2018. I was there to record images from the spectacular opening ceremony. It featured drone and fireworks displays, street entertainers plus music by Maximo Park.

The Great Exhibition of the North was billed as a celebration of arts, innovation, design and culture. It ran for 80 days, until 9 September 2018.

Great Exhibition of the North photography

The programme included exhibitions at museums and galleries in Newcastle and neighbouring Gateshead, culture trails and installations.

The Get North Water Sculpture in the River Tyne, under the Sage Gateshead, on the opening day of the Great Exhibition of the North.

More than 20,000 people gathered on Newcastle Quayside on the opening evening, during which poet Lemn Sissay also read a new work, Anthem of the North. Big screens and the public announcement system ensured that people on both sides of the River Tyne could see and hear what was going on.

Grey’s Monument, in central Newcastle, adorned with ribbons ahead of the opening ceremony of the Great Exhibition of the North.

The grand opening event

The United Kingdom’s largest water sculpture was installed in the River Tyne, between Newcastle Quayside and the Sage Gateshead. Created by Moorcambe-based Water Sculptures, its platform was more than 80-metres long.

The water jets of the Get North Water Sculpture on the River Tyne were choreographed to music during the opening ceremony of the Great Exhibition of the North.

It shot jets of water into the air. At night the work was illuminated. The water jets of the Get North Water Sculpture were synchronised to music.

Street performers on the Quayside

Street performers provided entertainment early in the evening. They included acrobats, what appeared to be a group of old ladies sitting on top of shopping baskets, curious flying machines plus a chap dressed as Icarus.

An Icarus figure soars above the crowd at the opening ceremony of the Great Exhibition of the North on the Quayside in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

A group of colourfully dressed musicians played upbeat tunes to ramp up the mood before a Confetti burst drew an ‘ooh’ from people around me.

Colourful musical entertainment on the Quayside as crowds gather for the opening ceremony of the Great Exhibition of the North in Newcastle.

Maximo Park on the River Tyne

The opening event featured an upbeat stint by the rock band Maximo Park. The group is from Newcastle. Nominated for the Mercury Prize, Maximo Park is known for albums such as A Certain Trigger and Too Much Information.

Maximo Park performing in front of the Sage Gateshead at the opening ceremony of the Great Exhibition of the North.

Sailing upriver on the Sir Bobby Robson, they performed on a stage aboard the boat.

Maximo Park performing on the River Tyne aboard the Sir Bobby Robson during the opening ceremony of the Great Exhibition of the North.

The Great Exhibition of the North’s opening event

From the perspective of a photographer, I think the highlight of the evening was the drone display in the night sky.

Simply Great! The drone display during the opening ceremony of the Great Exhibition of the North.

The clever, visually impressive display saw the drones shift into several patterns, spelling out ‘GREAT’, depicting the form of DNA and representing the Great Exhibition of the North logo.

DNA in the sky above the Sage Gateshead during the drone display at the opening ceremony of the Great Exhibition of the North.

Fireworks to end the opening ceremony

A firework display concluded the Great Exhibition of the North’s opening event.

Rockets burst in the deep blue summer sky above the Sage Gateshead.

Firework display during the opening ceremony of the Great Exhibition of the North. Rockets burst into the sky above the Sage Gateshead.

The fireworks came to a big finale and then the crowd dispersed. If you missed the evening, don’t worry — The Great Exhibition of the North’s programme of events continues into the autumn.

The Gateshead Millennium Bridge on the opening day of the Great Exhibition of the North.

Images of the Great Exhibition of the North

Want to buy or license any of my copyrighted photographs of the opening evening of the Great Exhibition of the North that you see on this page? Please get in touch to do so. Contact me through this website or call 07947 587136.

Fireworks over the Sage Gateshead during the opening ceremony of the Great Exhibition of the North.

Further information

See the Great Exhibition of the North website for information about the programme of events planned until 9 September 2018. To stay in touch with the buzz, follow the #GETNorth2018 hashtag on social media. 

The Newcastle Gateshead website is a good source of information about where to go, what to see and what to do. If you are visiting Newcastle and Gateshead you may gain inspiration from walking in Newcastle travel tips.

See the Visit Britain website for ideas about things to do and see elsewhere in northern England.

Enjoy this post on photography of the Great Exhibition of the North’s opening event? Why Eye Photography works across the United Kingdom. You may enjoy this article about Aberdeen Art Gallery.

Photographer in North East England

Looking for an experienced travel photographer for an editorial or commercial assignment? Why Eye Photography is a photography company based in North East England.

Like what you see on this page? Feel free call +44 (0) 7947 587136 to discuss your photography requirements. Why Eye Photography specialises in food, travel and portraiture, and has undertaken commissions across the United Kingdom and beyond.

If you would rather send an email than call, please do so via the contact form on this website.

Use Pinterest? Pin this and return to the whyeyephotography.com blog post about Great Exhibition of the North photography with images from the spectacular opening event..