The Angel of the North celebrates 25 years

On rare occasions, a bold new public building or monument can help spur a kind of cultural rebirth for a town or region.

In the case of Gateshead, north-east England, and its surrounding region, the Angel of the North (one of APM’s 50 Projects for a Better Future) had just such an effect after its unveiling in 1998. Perhaps the UK’s most iconic public art installation, the 20m-high steel angel is situated beside the A1 and is seen by more than one person every second. It has been credited with helping drive change in the wider region, the catalyst for the wider regeneration of Gateshead Quays that led to further projects such as the Gateshead Millennium Bridge.

The selection of the site for the sculpture was symbolic – it stands on top of a former colliery, representing Britain’s transition out of the industrial age. Made from Cor-ten steel, the total cost of the Angel was £800,000. Its 54m wingspan is almost the same as a jumbo jet’s, and the whole sculpture weighs 200 tonnes. It was built to withstand winds of more than 100mph, with concrete piles 20m deep to anchor it.

Looking back at his creation a quarter of a century on, designer and artist Sir Antony Gormley told the BBC that the Angel was made with “such joy, love and celebration. My part in this was small. It’s of and from the people of the North-East, and was made by them. It was entirely the result of working with local people.” He recalled his team being able to persuade Highways England that it “wouldn’t cause hundreds of people to crash their cars” and remembers people, including politicians, believing the sculpture would “make us a laughing stock. Art is often a political football and it certainly was in this case,” Sir Antony said.

THIS ARTICLE IS BROUGHT TO YOU FROM THE SUMMER 2023 ISSUE OF PROJECT JOURNAL, WHICH IS FREE FOR APM MEMBERS.