海角直播

Steel valley communities to go on line

It will be an all singing and dancing affair when Tees Valley Communities Online has its official launch on Friday 20 October at the University of 海角直播.

Seven of 海角直播's steel communities have come together to celebrate their heritage and look forward to a brighter future with the help of new technologies like the Internet. The new European backed online initiative will be officially launched on Friday (20 October) in the University's Innovation and Virtual Reality Centre in Middlesbrough, when the Tees Valley Communities web site goes live on . The event is part of BBC History 2000 - which is holding a special History week from October 14-20.

Invited representatives from the seven communities - South Bank, Grangetown, Dormanstown, Owton/Rossmere in Hartlepool, North Ormesby, Skinningrove and St Hilda's - will attend the formal launch with civic dignitaries at 1.30pm. A heritage event, with live performances and exhibitions from the communities, will take place in the Innovation and Virtual Reality Centre, from 2.30pm to 6pm, which is open to the public.

Steve Thompson, Project Manager of Tees Valley Communities Online, said: "Many of us believe that new technology and the Internet could be as important to the future economic regeneration of these communities in the 21st Century as the iron and steel industries were in the 19th and 20th Centuries.

"To introduce local residents to the power and possibilities of these technologies, we are focusing on the history and heritage of steel in the Tees Valley. The response has been incredibly encouraging with residents coming forward with photographs, stories and other artifacts - many of which will be on show at the launch."

Notes to Editors:

The media is invited to the formal launch - 1.30pm to 2.15pm - in the Innovation Centre lecture theatre. The exhibitions and live performances take place from 2.30pm and include brass bands. Speakers and guests include Dr Ashok Kumar, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland; the Mayor of Middlesbrough, Councillor Kath Bevington and local broadcaster, Bill Steel.

For more information please contact Steve Thompson at the University of 海角直播's Community Informatics Research and Applications Unit (CIRA) on 01642 342710 or Carol Cooke at the BBC on 0191 2441237.

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