Helping North East people to relieve the stresses and strains of daily lives is becoming big business – and serious, messy fun.
Having seen the launch of X-rated Ghetto Golf, axe throwing and lemur yoga, the newest firm to take advantage of unusual ways to unwind is Your Tribe, an art studio that lets you throw paint at your friends, and create some artwork at the same time.
The new art studio has opened at Hoults Yard in Newcastle, allowing groups of friends, work colleagues, hen and stag parties, children’s or family groups to squirt, splash and throw paint over each other.
Your Tribe, is the brainchild of Jane Crane, an artist and yoga teacher who left her job at NCFE to set up the venture.
She said: “It’s an idea I’ve had in my head for a while. After returning to work from maternity leave from NCFE, where I was working, having had my second baby, I decided I wanted a change.
“I sought some career coaching with local career and transition coach Gillian Dodd. She helped me to really explore the idea of opening an arts studio which could also be used for visitors to have fun with paint.”
Mrs Crane originally comes from Hull but stayed in the North East after studying film and media at the University of Sunderland, after which she also had a career in IT.
The business used to be a mobile venture, but recently took up its permanent base.
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She said: “I’ve done a few sessions already in people’s front rooms, garden sheds and other venues which was nerve-racking to keep them from getting ruined. They were great fun but we really needed our own space – and now we’ve got it.
“Hoults Yard was the first place I came to when looking for the right space, and after looking at plenty of other properties this is where I came back to. It’s perfect, there’s a real buzz, a real community here.
“I’ve created a flexible space for up to 15 people to come and have a great time.
“We provide canvasses for people to use the experience to create unique pieces of art too. So, if you’re celebrating a birthday, anniversary or the end of an era; whether you bring your friends, family, colleagues or customers to Your Tribe, we promise you’ll have a riot. It’s a great opportunity to let rip and get messy.”
Protective goggles are the only thing that have to be worn for the activity. Overalls and shower caps can be provided by Your Tribe as can a personalised musical playlist.
Mrs Crane said: “We’ll provide full waterproofs, although some people choose to enjoy the experience completely naked!
“Whatever you choose, you’ll leave feeling lifted and satisfied. There’s definitely a therapeutic element to throwing paint, apart from being able to splat it all over each other without a care in the world.”
She added: “The buzz afterwards of having spent time completely immersed – literally – in paint, colour and silliness is amazing.”