Alongside partners Washington Heritage Partnership, University of Sunderland, Baseline Shift and Arts Centre Washington, we are excited to be beginning a new project: ‘The Ballad of the Crocodile and the Underpass - Collecting and Sharing Stories of Washington’, which will work with communities in Washington to collect and share experiences of life in a new town.

Over the coming months, musicians Paige Temperley and David Brewis (Field Music) will work with community members and young people at Arts Centre Washington to turn stories of Washington into songs. We want to hear your stories of local heroes, social clubs, community events and youth clubs! The project will culminate in performances, an exhibition and banner (created with Baseline Shift) and a series of podcasts, created by the University of Sunderland.

The project is part of celebrations of Washington’s 60th birthday. It is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and supported by Sunderland Culture and the Sunderland City Council.