Led By Donkeys: Adventures in Art, Activism and Accountability

To take us back through the years of art and activism captured in their new book, we're thrilled to welcome Led By Donkeys to North Shields!

At the height of Brexit madness, four friends armed with ladders, roller brushes and a treasure trove of damning statements from our leaders slapped up the politicians' biggest lies on billboards around the country. It was the beginning of a guerrilla art campaign that has shaped political discourse in the UK since, artistic acts of resistance against years of inept, corrupt and venal rule in Britain.

Taken chronologically, the book covers (amongst other things); the Covid crisis of 2020; Boris Johnson's battles with truth and decency; Liz Truss's battles with maths and markets; the climate crisis we are sleepwalking into; burgeoning corruption in Westminster; the war in Ukraine; a crashed economy; the cost of living crisis and much more.

Over 200 images are accompanied by the stories behind their public acts, they'll take us behind the scenes, while exploring the design process adopted by the collective through their adventures in installation – the maps, plans and sketches that form the planning backdrop to the events as well as the outcomes – newspaper front pages, media response and public reaction.

Join us for a discussion of tactics they have deployed to speak truth to power, and the importance of direct action in turbulent times.