North Tyneside artist Penny Payne will explain her project on the role of women in the North East Coast fishing industry in a conversation with Helen Welford, Assistant Curator at MIMA on Saturday, October 23 at 11 a.m. at the Old Low Light Heritage Center on North Shields fish quay.

Horizons includes the creation of banners symbolizing the pleated skirts worn by Cullercoats fisherwomen in the late 1800s. Some banners will be visible.

Tickets for Penny’s conference cost £ 4 per person (Old Low Light members free) and can be booked online at https://oldlowlight.co.uk/event/horizons-talk-about-an-arts -project-inspired-by-cullercoats- fisherwomen /

Through the conversation with Helen, Penny will explain the inspiration behind Horizons, how the project has unfolded and evolved over the past two years, including how the banners were pleated and sewn by 30 women from across the country.

Penny said: “My interest in the women involved in the fishing industry on the North East Coast was sparked when I came across pictures of women wearing traditional clothing, especially those from Cullercoats.

“They wore a ‘uniform’ that included a heavy blue or black wool skirt that was heavily pleated, but these pleats varied in quantity, which gave a sense of individuality and autonomy within this tight-knit collective.

“As in many industries, the role of women in fishing was important.

“They were the backbone of the community and the family home while working long hours in harsh work environments.

“The project highlights the marginalization of these women and considers their collective strength. “