Together We Fly
Together We Fly is one of five creative, multilingual projects offered to schools and community groups as part of the Express Yourself: North East Festival of Languages 2026. The project invited children and young people to express themselves in any language, their home languages, languages they are learning, or languages they are curious about, while celebrating culture, friendship and unity.
Sharing feelings
Participants were encouraged to share their feelings about friendship and connection, representing their own identities and cultures through creative expression. Schools and groups received a specially designed resource pack, including step-by-step instructions and videos, to support them in creating origami butterflies. These beautiful creations were then sent in and carefully strung together to form a spectacular public art installation at Newcastle Civic Centre, on display from April 2026.
Each butterfly is individually unique, yet together they form a vibrant kaleidoscope of colours, languages and cultures, united by a shared message of hope, friendship and joy. We warmly encourage everyone to visit the installation and experience this uplifting display in person. A photobook has been created to share the project with all participants and a wider audience, spreading joy and celebrating the creativity and aspirations of children and young people across the region and beyond.
The importance of friendship
Friendship plays a vital role in our lives, supporting our mental and emotional wellbeing and giving us a strong sense of belonging. Through the World Friendship Project and the Together We Fly installation, children and young people extend the hand of friendship across the region and the world, celebrating bonds of connection, support and unity that cross borders and continents.
Origami, the traditional art of paper folding – has been practised for hundreds of years. The word comes from the Japanese terms “ori” (to fold) and “kami” (paper). By folding butterflies together, participants connect with a long-standing creative tradition while sharing imagination and friendship across languages and cultures.
Butterflies hold special meaning in many cultures, often symbolising change, growth and new beginnings. Their transformation from caterpillar to winged creature reminds us of the beauty that can emerge through creativity and change. In many traditions, butterflies also represent hope, joy and friendship. By creating butterflies in many colours and languages, children and young people celebrate the idea that while we may all be different, together we can create something bright, joyful and full of life.
We are incredibly proud that 17 North Tyneside schools contributed to this inspiring project, and we celebrate the commitment, creativity and voices of every child and young person who took part.
Participating North Tyneside schools:
- Amberley Primary School
- Appletree Gardens First School
- Balliol Primary School
- Burnside High School
- Christ Church Primary School
- Collingwood Primary School
- Hadrian park Primary School
- Hazlewood Community Primary School
- Marine Park First School
- New York Primary School
- North Gosforth Academy
- Percy Main Primary School
- Preston Grange Primary School
- Redesdale Primary School
- Shiremoor Primary School
- Wallsend St Peter’s C of E Primary School
- Waterville Primary School
How can we support your school?
Our Inclusive Learning and Achievement Service (ILAS) provide a range of training and support for schools and services. Find out more about how they can support your school or setting.
Article by
Diane Embley
Team leader
The Inclusive Learning and Achievement Service (ILAS)
diane.embley@northtyneside.gov.uk
