Photos by Denise Kua Sze Min (Festival Intern – Digital Content Creator)
Newcastle Civic Centre windows are filled with a kaleidoscope of colour from the thousands of butterflies created by children and young people from across the region and the world – stretching across the whole of the front of the building. The exhibition is open to the public for the coming year. Everyone is welcome to visit the installation and for those who can’t, there is a digital photobook which will be shared with all who participated and can be downloaded at the link below.
Our most popular Festival creative multilingual project ever, Together we Fly is a symbol of world friendship and provides inspiration to all who visit. There are origami butterflies, butterflies made as fans and flat butterflies framed and wall mounted – all bringing joy and representing children’s will for peace, unity and friendship.
Thank you to all the schools, teachers, museums, children and young people who took part in our world friendship project from January to March. Thanks to Declan Baharini and Sarah Edgar for designing the project and curating the installation, as well as threading thousands of butterflies, with gratitude to Karl Mercer and Denise Kua who also helped with the installation – and to the Civic Centre for allowing the butterflies to be exhibited.
A digital photobook is available for the project, which includes many photos of the installation, as well as details about the project, all the schools and groups involved and the organisers.
Click here to download the Together we Fly: World Friendship Project 2026 photobook (pdf)
The photobook was produced by Declan Baharini, Festival Coordinator and International Newcastle Chief Executive Officer. It can be shared widely.
Friendships hold immense importance in our lives, impacting our mental and emotional well-being. Cultivating and nurturing positive friendships can bring immense joy, support, and a sense of belonging to our lives. Extending the hand of friendship across the region and the world, the World Friendship project and ‘Together we fly’ installation demonstrates and celebrates the bonds of friendship, support and unity across continents.
Butterflies are found in many cultures as symbols of change, growth, and new beginnings. Because they transform from caterpillars into creatures with wings, they remind us of the beauty that comes from change and imagination. In some traditions, butterflies are also seen as messengers of hope, joy, and friendship. By folding butterflies in many colors and languages, we celebrate the idea that even though we are all different, we can come together to create something bright and full of life.
Origami is the art of folding paper into beautiful shapes without cutting or gluing. The word “origami” comes from “ori,” meaning “to fold,” and “kami,” meaning “paper.” For hundreds of years, people have created animals, flowers, and other designs by folding a single sheet of paper. By making butterflies together, we connect with this tradition of creativity and imagination, while also sharing friendship across languages and cultures.
Declan and Sarah – Project Leads
About the photographer
Denise Kua Sze Min is one of five Festival interns from Northumbria and Newcastle Universities producing articles and digital content for the Festival this year. The Festival wants to provide opportunities for students to gain real-world experience to help them in their future careers.
Denise is originally from Malaysia and is currently studying for a MSc in Forensic Science at Northumbria University. She has a passion for photography and digital content creation.