Photograph of a Cullercoats fisherman. © Newcastle Libraries and Information Service.

Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens is hosting a new exhibition, which explores the rich fishing heritage of the north east as part of the SeaBritain North East programme of events.

On show until September 18 2005, Working the Waves uses various media and objects to tell the story of how fishing developed from catching fish for personal use to a major north east industry.

The exhibition also shows how fish make their way from the sea to the dinner table and features Norman Cornish’s painting Wet Friday which depicts a traditional fish and chip shop.

Wet Friday by Norman Cornish. © University Gallery on behalf of Norman Cornish.

"The first steam trawler in the UK, and possibly the world, worked out of North Shields and commercial fishing has been an important element of the local economy for many years with fish becoming an important part of people’s diets," said Juliet Horsley, curator of Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens.

"Working the Waves is a unique exhibition which explores the life and times of fishermen and their communities across the region and highlights the important role the industry has played in the North East."

Fishermen and their families are illustrated in photographic form as well as in storytelling sessions. Visitors can also see how traditional woollen sweaters known as ganseys were knitted.

Assistant Keeper of Social History at Sunderland, Elissa Haskins-Vaughan puts the finishing touches to the exhibition.

Aside from sea shanties and the celebrations of fish as food, the exhibition showcases some unusual objects brought back by whaling ships such as a polar bear which was brought to the north east on the Lord Gambier.

Working the Waves has been funded as part of the International Festival of Rivers and the Sea – part of a £12m series of festivals and events across the north east.

SeaBritain 2005 North East is co-ordinated by the North East Regional Museums Hub, which is funded by Renaissance in the Regions, a Museums Libraries and Archives Council initiative to raise the profile of regional museums.

Working the Waves is sponsored by ITV Tyne Tees.

Alastair Smith is the 24 Hour Museum Renaissance Student Writer in the North East region. Renaissance is the groundbreaking initiative to transform England's regional museums, led by MLA, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.