· The biggest free street party in the North East to form centrepiece of the celebrations on Sunday 22 June at the Angel site.
· Balloon release to commemorate local people’s Valentines who have passed away.
· Unique competition for ten couples to renew wedding vows at the foot of the Angel, in a special ceremony by the Bishop of Jarrow.
· A year-long campaign of local Angel-themed events to mark a decade of the much loved sculpture.

On February 14 1998 the eyes of the world were on Gateshead as the most talked about piece of public art in the country arrived. Ten years on Gateshead Council is celebrating the Angel of the North and the huge impact it has had on Gateshead and North East England.

Ten years ago the installation of Antony Gormley’s 20 metre tall Angel of the North had the world talking when Gateshead Council with funders and partners at the Arts Council Lottery Fund, the European Regional Development Fund and One NorthEast, revealed the structure for the first time.

Thousands of people flocked to see their Angel in the following days, and they continue to do so. Welcoming visitors from the A1 and the main East Coast rail line the Angel of the North is seen by one person every second, 90,000 each day or 33 million every year.

Leader of Gateshead Council, Cllr Mick Henry said:

“When we first proposed the Angel of the North, some people failed to understand the vision behind the project. They didn’t understand the bold use of public art as a driving force for regeneration. We remained confident that it was the right thing to do for Gateshead and that the Angel of the North would help bring about the transformation in the borough that we all wanted.

“Ten years on and the Angel has directly led to the likes of BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art and The Sage Gateshead, bringing with them millions of pounds of investment and hundreds of jobs. Now the Angel of the North is seen as the defining structural symbol of renaissance in the North East and it’s only right that we celebrate not only what the Angel symbolises but the very real impact it has made in Gateshead and the North East.

“Today is the start of a year-long campaign of unique, exhilarating and inspirational events that will help make 2008 the year of the Angel.”

The fun-filled street party (Sunday 22 June) is set to be the highlight of the summer, with families, friends and residents coming together for an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime celebration.

The anniversary party will form part of NewcastleGateshead's world-class programme of festivals and events in 2008, managed by culture10 at NewcastleGateshead Initiative.

Also launched today is a unique competition giving fans of the Angel an opportunity to remember friends, relatives and loved ones who have passed away.

A thousand helium filled balloons are to be launched from the Angel of the North, each with a special message attached in remembrance of an Angel who has touched a life.

To enter Gateshead Council’s competition to release a balloon for your loved ones visit www.itsmyAngel.co.uk or text 0779 7803 054. Entries must include the name of the person the message is for and your name - using a maximum of 150 letters (including spaces).

Love will also be in the air when the Bishop of Jarrow brings ten local couples together at the feet of the Angel to renew their wedding vows in Spring. This will be another chance of a lifetime event for people to get involved with the celebrations.

To find out more about renewing your vows underneath the Angel of the North visit www.itsmyAngel.co.uk.

The Bishop of Jarrow, The Right Reverend Mark Bryant said:

“With Valentines Day being the 10th Birthday of the Angel what better way to celebrate then to renew your wedding vows in the shadow of this amazing sculpture.”