Story
We’re Laura and Theo founders of Northern Yin and Yang, the artists behind The Market Gallery, a brand new creative space in the heart of South Shields.
We’ve spent the last six months transforming the former Wilko store into a community art gallery and artist studio space—funded entirely by our own pockets and passion.
Just days before our opening, the gallery was broken into and vandalised. Walls were graffitied, glass smashed, furniture destroyed, equipment stolen or urinated on, and beloved artwork ruined.
We’re heartbroken—but we’re not giving up.
We’re now raising funds to recover from the damage and open our doors as soon as possible.
💥 What We Need Help With:
We’re only asking for enough to repair what was lost, including:
- Gallery walling & panels
- Paint & repair materials
- Damaged and stolen equipment (projectors, lights, monitor, steamer, ladders, raspberry pi)
- Cleaning & graffiti removal
- Security repairs (door, lock, window)
- Replacement of stolen furniture
- Fire extinguishers
Every item in this list is only the basics to help us get off the ground again it doesn't include the extensive list of damages costing well cover £14000, it also does not include the costs of labour or construction and every donation helps us restore this space for the community.
This gallery was built for local artists, families, and young people. Ironically, it may have been young people who caused the damage, which only proves how deeply this kind of space is needed.
We’re rebuilding with love and purpose—and any contribution, no matter how small, gets us one step closer.
🙏 Thank you for believing in art, community, and a brighter future for South Shields.
📰 Read our BBC story here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c74z2l50p42o
📍Follow our journey on Instagram/Facebook: @northernyinandyang
