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The Crack Magazine

Art

Steam to Green: A North East Energy Revolution

Discovery Museum’s major new exhibition will tell the story of energy and the climate crisis in the North East by looking back to the industrial revolution, and forward to the pioneering contributions in green technologies happening now across the region. With exciting new displays, science and engineering objects from the museums’ historical collections, and new interactives, Steam to Green will demystify new technologies and showcase how the North East is leading the way once more.

Venue:
Discovery Museum, (Closed on all Bank Holidays) Blandford Square, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4JA
Date:
Jul 20th 2024 - Jul 20th 2026
Opening Times:
Sat-Sun 11:00 - 16:00 , Mon-Fri 10:00 - 16:00
Price:
Free

Mani Kambo: Ax·is Mun·di

Mani Kambo’s solo show is a major new commission and will be the artist’s first institutional exhibition. A multidisciplinary artist, Mani Kambo is based in Newcastle upon Tyne and explores the inner spirit by drawing on her own personal totemic symbols. Influenced by her upbringing in a household filled with superstition, prayer, and religious ceremony, Kambo’s practice encompasses textiles, fabric dying and printmaking, and is rooted in her family history within the caste system.

Venue:
BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, South Shore Road, Gateshead Quays, Gateshead, NE8 3BA
Date:
Dec 7th 2024 - Jun 1st 2025
Opening Times:
Sun and Wed-Sat 10:00 - 18:00
Price:
Free

Knitted together: the Korean lives and legacies of Richard and Joan Rutt

Drawing on the objects and photographs of the main donors to the Korean collection at the Oriental Museum, Knitted Together details Richard and Joan Rutt’s 20 years living in South Korea in the immediate aftermath of the Korean War (1950 – 1953). Coinciding with the 70th anniversary of when Richard first arrived in Korea as a missionary in 1954, and 50 years since both Richard and Joan Rutt left Korea in 1974, the exhibition focuses on the influences of Korea on their lives, and the wide-ranging legacies of the couple.

Venue:
Oriental Museum, Elvet Hill, (off South Road), Durham, DH1 3TH
Date:
Sep 28th 2024 - May 4th 2025
Opening Times:
Sat-Sun 12:00 - 17:00 , Tue-Wed and Fri 10:00 - 17:00 , Thu 10:00 - 19:00
Price:
Free

Leap then Look | Play, Interact, Explore

The exhibition explores play, collaboration and materials. Featuring large, tactile sculptural objects and colourful assemblages, everything in the space is interactive. Lively, exciting and curiosity-filled, Play Interact Explore is designed to support and encourage taking part in different ways to create sculptures, take photographs, move things around, rock, roll, stack and play.

Venue:
BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, South Shore Road, Gateshead Quays, Gateshead, NE8 3BA
Date:
Oct 12th 2024 - Apr 27th 2025
Opening Times:
Sun and Wed-Sat 10:00 - 18:00
Price:
Free

Ted Holloway: A Bevin Boy Remembered

Eighty years ago, during the Second World War, artist Ted Holloway was conscripted to work in the coal mines as a Bevin Boy. This exhibition brings together a selection of his paintings and drawings spanning the course of his life and journey from miner to art teacher and professional artist, and reveals the enduring influence of mining on his work as an artist.

Venue:
Mining Art Gallery, Bishop Auckland, County Durham
Date:
Oct 19th 2024 - Jun 8th 2025
Opening Times:
Sun and Wed-Sat 11:00 - 16:00
Price:
£6/conc £4/child £3

Land, Sea and Air

Ken Devine, an EDAN artist will be holding a personal exhibition together with some other EDAN artists.

Venue:
EDAN Gallery, The Art Block, 74 Church Street, Seaham, County Durham, SR7 7HF
Date:
Mar 4th 2025 - Mar 30th 2025
Opening Times:
Tue-Fri 11:00 - 15:00 , Sat 10:00 - 16:00
Price:
Free

Pamela Ormston - Sand and Salt

Paintings entirely inspired by life at the seaside and the busyness that is drawn to it; both in the colour and forms that present themselves as well as imagery that evokes memories and dreams of summer migration to the seaside. I like to find elements that are a bit flamboyant, a bit marvellous and a bit curious... and then exaggerate them just a little.

Venue:
Wild & Free Gallery, 3A Ilfracombe Gardens, Whitley Bay, NE26 3ND
Date:
Mar 16th 2025 - Apr 5th 2025
Opening Times:
Wed-Sat 09:30 - 17:00
Price:
Free

Romance to Realities: The Northern Landscape and Shifting Identities

A new exhibition at the Laing Art Gallery explores over 200 years of landscape painting in the North of England and Scotland, focusing on the diverse and dramatic landscapes of the regions and how artists have depicted not only the world around us, but also our place within it. For centuries, the landscapes of the North have fascinated artists and this exhibition will focus on how these landscapes —urban, rural, land, sea, and sky— have changed. From the Romanticised visions of early artists to the more complex and sometimes harsh realities captured in later works, the paintings reveal not just the physical changes in the land, but also shifts in societal values and human experience.

Venue:
Laing Art Gallery, New Bridge Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8AG
Date:
Oct 5th 2024 - Apr 26th 2025
Opening Times:
Mon-Sat 10:00 - 16:30
Price:
£7/£6

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Brasília of the North

An exhibition exploring the ideas, personalities and broader social, cultural and political climate that underpinned the aspirations to transform Newcastle into a modernist city. During the 1960s, policymakers, planners and architects had the highest aspirations for Newcastle and the North East, imagining it being transformed into the ‘Brasília of the North’ – a shining north European equivalent to the futuristic new Brazilian capital city then emerging from the Cerrado savanna. This exhibition, which forms part of the Concrete Dreams project, explores the ideas, personalities and broader social, cultural and political climate that shaped these aspirations. It brings together a range of models, drawings, photographs, films, archival materials and other artefacts, relating to Tyneside’s 1960s and 1970s transformations.

Venue:
Farrell Centre, The Sir Terry Farrell Building, Eldon Place, Newcastle, NE1 7RD
Date:
Sep 19th 2024 - Jun 1st 2025
Opening Times:
Sun and Wed-Sat 10:00 - 17:00
Price:
Free

Losing Track, Holding Traces

An exhibition of work by three artists who connect with the landscape and each other through walking, drawing and making. Jane Gower creates ephemeral sculptures made in the landscape from natural materials found on her journeys, Omi Pharncote works in felt, often incorporating textures and found materials in her textile works and Jenny Purrett’s drawings capture the vitality of nature, including tree portraits and delicate drawings using pigment. This exhibition explores how their work has developed over the course of a year through their shared experiences of places and collaborations with nature.

Venue:
Gateshead Central Library, Prince Consort Road, Gateshead, NE8 4LN
Date:
Jan 18th 2025 - Mar 29th 2025
Opening Times:
Sat 09:00 - 13:00 , Tue-Wed and Fri 09:00 - 17:00 , Mon and Thu 09:00 - 19:00
Price:
Free

20 Historical Women Who Changed The World

This bold, colourful, educational and historically-inspired exhibition features the works of Nigerian-born Doncaster artist, curator, and art advisor Chinwe Russell. It gives an insight into the lives of some incredible women from around the world, whose work in different sectors have had a massive impact on the contemporary world and continue to do so. The collection contains some well-known historical figures such as Marie Curie, Elizabeth I and Florence Nightingale, but most importantly, it also contains many lesser-known women whose works continue to shape our daily lives.

Venue:
Bishop Auckland Town Hall, Market Place, Bishop Auckland, DL14 7NP
Date:
Mar 1st 2025 - May 24th 2025
Opening Times:
Mon-Sat 10:00 - 16:00
Price:
Free

The Discovery of Birds

Drawing on Ushaw Library’s rich and varied natural history holdings, The Discovery of Birds illuminates the development of bird art and ornithology from the Renaissance to the nineteenth century. The exhibition takes in the Enlightenment, exploration and discovery and includes the work of many of the leading naturalists and bird artists of the period.

Venue:
Ushaw: Historic House, Chapels and Gardens, Woodland Road, Durham, DH7 9RH
Date:
Mar 22nd 2025 - Jun 22nd 2025
Opening Times:
Mon-Sat 11:00 - 16:00
Price:
£10/under 18s £6/under 5s Free

Hetton Art Club: Group Show

A group exhibition of new work by members of Hetton Art Club. The selling exhibition includes oils, drawings and watercolours.

Venue:
Ushaw: Historic House, Chapels and Gardens, Woodland Road, Durham, DH7 9RH
Date:
Feb 1st 2025 - Mar 30th 2025
Opening Times:
Mon-Sat 11:00 - 16:00
Price:
Adults £10/Children £6/under 5s free/annual memberships available

Delicate Liminalities / 些細な狭間

The exhibition explores how humans relate, co-create and impact the natural environment that surrounds us in the context of the climate emergency. The videos delve into the intricate intersection between our bodies, environments, and the shared consciousness of the ecosystem. Challenging techno-solutionism, ‘”Delicate Liminalities / 些細な狭間” inquires how our bodily experience of nature can foster a deeper personal and cultural understanding.

Venue:
NewBridge Books, The Shieldfield Centre, 4-8 Clarence Walk, Newcastle, NE2 1AL
Date:
Mar 1st 2025 - Mar 29th 2025
Opening Times:
Wed-Sat 12:00 - 17:00
Price:
Free

Our County: The Children of Yesterday and Tomorrow

This exhibition explores the experiences of County Durham children at different points in history. From young people who left behind fascinating family records during the 1800s, to the glimpses we can see of children in Roman and Medieval periods, this show is a real eye-opener and shines a spotlight on a section of society who often don’t get to have their voices recorded in historic records. And not only will the show examine the different experiences of children at different times in history, it will also consider what issues and opportunities exist for young people in the County today.

Venue:
The Story, Mount Oswald, South Road, Durham, DH1 3TQ
Date:
Nov 2nd 2024 - May 5th 2025
Opening Times:
Sat-Sun 10:00 - 17:00 , Thu 00:00 - 19:00 , Mon-Fri 00:00 - 17:00
Price:
Free

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Pete Wilkinson Exhibition

Pete Wilkinson is a photographer and filmmaker from Hexham. Although often shooting portraiture, architecture and design, the main focus of Pete’s photographic work is the landscape. By returning to and exploring the local area and the Tyne Valley of his youth, Pete looks to examine the role of landscape as a visual language and shared vocabulary, and how it can be used to communicate, resonate, and stimulate.

Venue:
Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Beaumont Street, Hexham, NE46 3LS
Date:
Nov 11th 2024 - May 12th 2025
Opening Times:
Mon-Sat 10:00 - 16:00
Price:
Free

Graham Vasey Between Land and Sea: The History and Folklore of Hartlepool

Renowned fine art photographer and filmmaker Graham Vasey presents a new body of work that delves into the hidden stories and enduring legends of Hartlepool. Inspired by the wild corners of the North, Vasey’s work captures the atmosphere and essence of place, intertwining historical research with visual artistry. The exhibition features Vasey’s evocative photography alongside objects and artworks from Hartlepool Borough Council’s collection, creating a dynamic dialogue between past and present.

Venue:
Hartlepool Art Gallery, The Tourist Information Centre, Church Square, Hartlepool, TS24 7EQ
Date:
Feb 1st 2025 - Mar 29th 2025
Opening Times:
Tue-Sat 10:00 - 17:00
Price:
Free

Re-imag(in)ing WORK: Photographs from the IPRN Changing Faces Collection

Re-imag(in)ing WORK explores the changing face of work in Europe, Africa and South America.  Themes addressed include productivity, the decline of traditional and manual industries and rise of service industries, the impact of new technologies upon labour, constructed sites of commerce and controlled natural environments, migrant workers and migration and identity and opportunity in a newly expanded EU.

Venue:
National Glass Centre, Liberty Way, Sunderland, SR6 0GL
Date:
Dec 10th 2024 - Mar 30th 2025
Opening Times:
Daily 10:00 - 17:00
Price:
Free

Menagerie

A menagerie is a collection of wild animals kept in captivity for exhibition. The definition of wild is flexible for this selection of animals and creatures created by artists working in glass and ceramics. For example, Zoe Whiteside’s ceramic elephant and bears characterises the beauty of these marvellous creatures, while Emma Woffenden and John Moran introduce very different concepts into their depictions of animals in glass. Some of the earliest examples of art feature representations of animals and this exhibition brings us up to date.

Venue:
National Glass Centre, Liberty Way, Sunderland, SR6 0GL
Date:
Dec 14th 2024 - May 31st 2025
Opening Times:
Daily 10:00 - 17:00
Price:
Free

Samantha Cary: Unravelling

In this new body of work Samantha Cary moves between painting, mono prints, etchings and woodcuts to build complex, layered and often darkly humorous images. Tackling subjects including jealousy, career isolation, dating and heartbreak through a process of meticulous making and a prism of cultural references ranging from music videos, television and films to fairytales and art history, her stories unwind and unravel.

Venue:
Granary Gallery, Dewar’s Lane, Berwick-upon-Tweed, TD15 1HJ
Date:
Mar 8th 2025 - May 18th 2025
Opening Times:
Sun and Wed-Sat 11:00 - 16:00
Price:
Free

Durham University Science 100 Exhibition

This exhibition explores the history of science education and research at Durham, featuring remarkable artefacts and stories from their museum collections. Discover pioneering female archaeologists, the science of plant conservation, and the ongoing role Durham’s museums play in modern scientific advancements. Whether through the study of Egyptian mummies or conservation work at Durham Castle, each object tells a story of how science has evolved.

Venue:
Outdoor Art Gallery, Outside the Bill Bryson Library, Stockton Rd, Durham, DH1 3LY
Date:
Jan 1st 2025 - May 4th 2025
Opening Times:
1st Jan - 4th May 2025 TBC
Price:
Free

Delicate Liminalities / 些細な狭間

This exhibition explores how humans relate, co-create and impact the natural environment that surrounds us in the context of the climate emergency. The videos delve into the intricate intersection between our bodies, environments, and the shared consciousness of the ecosystem. Challenging techno-solutionism, Delicate Liminalities / 些細な狭間 inquires how our bodily experience of nature can foster a deeper personal and cultural understanding.

Venue:
The NewBridge Project, Shieldfield Centre 4 - 8, Clarence Walk, off Stoddart St, Newcastle, NE2 1AL
Date:
Mar 1st 2025 - Mar 29th 2025
Opening Times:
Daily 12:00 - 17:00
Price:
Free

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Hetain Patel: Come As You Really Are

From makers and modifiers to crafters and collectors, Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, alongside award-winning artist and Spider-Man enthusiast Hetain Patel and Artangel present Come As You Really Are. Beginning as a nationwide call-out inviting members of the public to share the creative activity they dedicate their spare time to, Come As You Really Are will feature hundreds of unique hand-crafted objects and collections submitted from across the North East of England standing shoulder to shoulder with existing artworks and a new film commission by Patel.

Venue:
Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, c/o National Glass Centre, Liberty Way, Sunderland, SR6 0GL
Date:
Mar 22nd 2025 - Jul 6th 2025
Opening Times:
Daily 10:00 - 17:00
Price:
Free

Sustainable Clay

This exhibition explores the environmental impact of this naturally occurring material. Potters and artists have long valued clay for its connection to a particular place, the very earth beneath our feet, but they are increasingly concerned about the sustainability of this material. The artists featured in this exhibition are taking an experimental approach to clay as a sculptural material while striving for sustainability within their creative processes.

Venue:
Hatton Gallery, The Quadrangle, University of Newcastle, 6 Kensington Terrace, Newcastle, NE1 7RU
Date:
Feb 1st 2025 - May 3rd 2025
Opening Times:
Mon-Sat 10:00 - 17:00
Price:
Free

MA Curating Art

Newcastle University’s new MA Curating Art presents three exhibitions of roughly one month each. First is a ‘one-work’ exhibition, looking again at a treasure from the Hatton’s permanent collection. The second exhibition is a re-examination of historical and modern artworks acquired by the Hatton across its first century of teaching fine art. The third exhibition combines contemporary art and historical artworks in unexpected ways.

Venue:
Hatton Gallery, The Quadrangle, University of Newcastle, 6 Kensington Terrace, Newcastle, NE1 7RU
Date:
Feb 14th 2025 - May 7th 2025
Opening Times:
Mon-Sat 10:00 - 17:00
Price:
Free

The Lost and Left Behind

This exhibition by Scotland-born artist Gillian Lee Smith explores connections and memories that are accumulated, embellished, diminished, and sometimes lost and even rediscovered over time. Whilst the work represents and honours our collective heritage, our ancestors, and those who have come before us, we are also invited to view ourselves with the same curiosity and reverence as those we hold dear. What if we were to create/recreate (and even imagine!) stories that are familiar and celebrate our uniqueness - to connect with ourselves, our memories, and our human experience?

Venue:
Bailiffgate Museum, 14 Bailiffgate, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 1LX
Date:
Feb 4th 2025 - Mar 30th 2025
Opening Times:
Sun and Tue-Sat 10:00 - 16:00
Price:
Adults £6/conc £5/children £1

Nerys Johnson: Disability and Practice

The exhibition explores Johnson’s lived experience of rheumatoid arthritis and the subsequent impact of disability on her artistic practice. The works on display have been chosen from a large body of Johnson's work, which was donated to the Laing by the Estate of Nerys Johnson in November 2022. The archive is comprised of thousands of works on paper, including sketchbooks, prints, and watercolours, dating from throughout her artistic career. Johnson is most well-known for the vibrant and often intense colours in her work combined with dramatic and abstract forms of flowers, often set against dark backdrops. Her work, however, is varied—she uses different media and includes a variety of subjects beyond flowers, notably including self-portraits, abstract nudes, and architectural motifs.

Venue:
Laing Art Gallery, New Bridge Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8AG
Date:
Dec 21st 2024 - Dec 6th 2025
Opening Times:
Mon-Sat 10:00 - 16:30
Price:
Free

The Dome Wasn’t Built In A Day

Rubber Duck Factory is an art collective celebrating creatives from the North East and providing opportunities to exhibit their work. They are collaborating with For the love of the North to hold a three month long exhibition in Spanish City. ‘TDWBIAD’ will display approximately 40 artists, all with ties to the North East.

Venue:
Spanish City, Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear, NE26 1BG
Date:
Jan 25th 2025 - Apr 6th 2025
Opening Times:
25th Jan - 6th Apr 2025 TBC
Price:
Free

Koestler Arts: Almost Home

Koestler Arts and Baltic are partnering to present a showcase of artwork made in criminal justice settings in the North East of England. The showcase will present an array of fine art, design, writing and music from prisons, secure hospitals and probation services in the North East, all entered into the 2024 Koestler Awards for arts in the criminal justice system. The show features 70 works from the region, selected after a week The Koestler Arts team spent working with 6 women in the prison’s art class.

Venue:
BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, South Shore Road, Gateshead Quays, Gateshead, NE8 3BA
Date:
Feb 19th 2025 - May 11th 2025
Opening Times:
Sun and Wed-Sat 10:00 - 18:00
Price:
Free

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Miria Miria: future tense

In 'Future Tense' the artist reflects on the midpoint of her artistic journey and future development while exploring what art has to say about us and our future.

Venue:
Redcar Contemporary Art Gallery, 13 West Terrace, Redcar, TS10 1DS
Date:
Mar 13th 2025 - Apr 26th 2025
Opening Times:
Wed-Sat 11:00 - 16:00
Price:
Free

Amber: Documenting Place

A display of photographs and films from the Amber Film & Photography Collective. Founded in 1968, the Amber Film & Photography Collective is renowned for their work documenting the full spectrum of experience in the North East’s working class and industrial communities. With images from the AmberSide Collection, and select films from Amber, Documenting Place looks at how locations can be captured through a focus on the people and communities who live there.

Venue:
Farrell Centre, The Sir Terry Farrell Building, Eldon Place, Newcastle, NE1 7RD
Date:
Feb 20th 2025 - Jun 1st 2025
Opening Times:
Sun and Wed-Sat 10:00 - 17:00
Price:
Free

'The Secret Lives of Bottle of Notes: Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen'

Discover the story behind Bottle of Notes (1993), Middlesbrough’s iconic public sculpture and the only UK work by celebrated artists Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen. Over its 30-year life this nine-metre-tall steel bottle has been adopted as a symbol for the Tees Valley. The Secret Lives of Bottle of Notes, delves into how public art shapes identity and place. Through historical and contemporary artworks, archival materials, and creative contributions from Tees Valley communities, the exhibition traces the making of this significant sculpture, its meaning to the region, and its lasting impact on Middlesbrough’s cultural landscape.

Venue:
Mima, Centre Square, Middlesbrough, TS1 2AZ
Date:
Mar 14th 2025 - Oct 5th 2025
Opening Times:
Sun 12:00 - 16:00 , Tue-Sat 10:00 - 16:30
Price:
Free

Glass Zoo

The Menagerie theme continues along the Balcony Gallery showing animals and creatures selected from National Glass Centre’s permanent collection. Please be aware that it may not be possible to contain all wildlife within the display cases.

Venue:
National Glass Centre, Liberty Way, Sunderland, SR6 0GL
Date:
Jan 18th 2025 - Jun 1st 2025
Opening Times:
Daily 10:00 - 17:00
Price:
Free

The Northumberland Open Exhibition 2025

Housed in Woodhorn Museum’s stunning Workshop Galleries, the annual Northumberland Open is the largest exhibition of its type in Northumberland. The exhibition attracts submissions from artists from across Northumberland and beyond. Works are selected for exhibition by a professional panel of artists and curators who also select an Overall Winner and Highly Commended artworks to be awarded prizes. During the exhibition run, thousands of visitors vote for the ‘People’s Choice Award’ which is announced at the end of the exhibition.

Venue:
Woodhorn Museum , Queen Elizabeth 2nd Country Park, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 9YF
Date:
Feb 22nd 2025 - Jun 1st 2025
Opening Times:
Sun and Wed-Sat 10:00 - 16:00
Price:
£9.50/£8.50/under 18s Free

Journeys

A project and exhibition that explores the experiences of individuals impacted by organ donation and transplantation, visualised through maps and objects. The project, developed by the NIHR Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Organ Donation and Transplantation at Cambridge and Newcastle Universities and in collaboration with community publishers Foundation Press, invited participants to create maps to illustrate their unique journeys. In addition to the maps, participants selected objects that played significant roles in their experiences.

Venue:
Great North Museum: Hancock, Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4PT
Date:
Jan 15th 2025 - Apr 27th 2025
Opening Times:
Mon-Fri 10:00 - 17:00 , Sun 11:00 - 16:00 , Sat 10:00 - 16:00
Price:
Free

SHOAL

An exhibition featuring 12 photographs by artist Mandy Barker. The series reveals evidence of marine plastic debris collected during the Japanese Tsunami Debris Expedition in June 2012. The work focuses on plastics collected and photographed from trawls and net samples at various points between Japan and Hawaii, and also from the tsunami affected shoreline in Fukushima Prefecture. Each image includes a different trawl sample, in some cases represented as tiny plankton, and captioned with the grid reference of where each sample was collected.

Venue:
Great North Museum: Hancock, Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4PT
Date:
Feb 21st 2025 - Nov 2nd 2025
Opening Times:
Mon-Fri 10:00 - 17:00 , Sun 11:00 - 16:00 , Sat 10:00 - 16:00
Price:
Free

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From Josephine Bowes: Trendsetters and Trailblazers

A landmark exhibition honouring the pioneering spirit and 200th anniversary of museum co-founder, Joséphine Bowes. This visually stunning exhibition showcases three centuries of eclectic art and creativity including a curated selection of works from The Bowes Museum’s collection and major loans from across the UK, Europe and United States. Expect to see an extraordinary mix of paintings, sculptures, textiles and ceramics from world-renowned artists including Pablo Picasso and Sir Grayson Perry CBE, rising contemporaries such as Joy Labinjo and Lucy Waters, and a special commission by Phoebe Cummings. The exhibition offers a glimpse into how Joséphine’s remarkable understanding of artistic trends and cross-genre approach to collecting might have shaped the collection today.

Venue:
The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, County Durham, DL12 8NP
Date:
Feb 8th 2025 - Jun 29th 2025
Opening Times:
Daily 10:00 - 17:00
Price:
£19/under 18s Free

Josephine: A Woman of Taste and Fashion

Discover the timeless elegance, craftsmanship and innovation of Joséphine Bowes’ textile collection in this captivating display. From opulent historical textiles to the cutting-edge creations of French haute couture, highlights include iconic designs from Yves Saint Laurent, Jeanne Paquin and Elsa Schiaparelli, as well as intricate embroideries and breathtaking lacework. Examples of Joséphine’s style influences from the mid-18th century will also be on show, alongside rare surviving pieces from her personal wardrobe and material from the archives.

Venue:
The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, County Durham, DL12 8NP
Date:
Mar 22nd 2025 - Mar 1st 2026
Opening Times:
Daily 10:00 - 17:00
Price:
£19/under 18s Free

Stepney Western

Newcastle Contemporary Art is delighted to announce Stepney Western, an exhibition comprising a new film by Newcastle-based artist / filmmaker Harry Lawson. At the heart of Stepney Western is Lawson’s experimental documentary, made over the past two years in collaboration with a group of young inner city horse riders from Stepney Bank Stables in Newcastle. It is loosely centred on their Alternative Provision programme — a unique alternative for young people in Newcastle who struggle in mainstream education settings.

Venue:
Newcastle Contemporary Art, High Bridge Works, 31-39 High Bridge, Newcastle upon-Tyne, NE1 1EW
Date:
Mar 15th 2025 - Apr 27th 2025
Opening Times:
Thu-Sat 12:00 - 17:00
Price:
Free

The Fight for Byker and Other Stories

An installation exploring the 1960s work of the Byker Study Group in shaping the development of the Byker Estate. The Byker Estate (constructed 1969–83) is internationally recognised for its pioneering approach to community participation. Emphasising local involvement, the project departed from top-down redevelopment trends, while, architecturally, it broke from modernist orthodoxy with innovative and socially inclusive designs that have had a global influence on housing design and the community architecture movement. Ralph Erskine, the lead architect, gained fame for the redevelopment, and is widely seen as the instigator of this pioneering approach. However, the initial impetus came from the largely unrecognised efforts of the Byker Study Group in the 1960s. Having successfully lobbied for the right of residents to remain in Byker, they would play a key role in shaping its subsequent transformation. This installation explores this ‘pre-redevelopment’ period in Byker’s history via photographs, artefacts and oral histories from contemporary witnesses. Visitors are invited to contribute to the installation by bringing old photographs, negatives or slides that can be scanned and added to a photo memory wall.

Venue:
Farrell Centre, The Sir Terry Farrell Building, Eldon Place, Newcastle, NE1 7RD
Date:
Feb 6th 2025 - Jun 1st 2025
Opening Times:
Sun and Wed-Sat 10:00 - 17:00
Price:
Free

20 Years of the Penfold Press

Dan Bugg established the Penfold Press in 2005 and has gone on to work regularly with a small group of creative talents to produce beautiful editioned prints that are sought-after by collectors and art lovers alike. This new exhibition shows some of the fantastic work produced in the last 20 years, including work from Angie Lewin, Johnny Hannah, Angela Harding, Emily Sutton and many more.

Venue:
The Old School Gallery, Foxton Road, Alnmouth, Northumberland, NE66 3NH
Date:
Mar 28th 2025 - Apr 28th 2025
Opening Times:
Mon-Sat 10:00 - 17:00 , Sun 11:00 - 17:00
Price:
Free

Kim McDermottroe – GreenPlume

In ‘GreenPlume’, artist Kim McDermottroe, whose studio is in Hartlepool, brings her imagination to life. As a creative director, illustrator and costume and puppet designer/maker, her varied portfolio showcases her passion for transforming the mundane into the extraordinary. At the heart of the exhibition is Tobias GreenPlume, a magical owl who inspired a fantastical exploration of nature, mechanics and character. Blending flora, fauna and man-made elements like cogs, McDermottroe’s intricate creations reimagine the natural world with a whimsical twist. Her large-scale costumes, original works and limited-edition prints are displayed for the first time in Hartlepool.

Venue:
Hartlepool Art Gallery, The Tourist Information Centre, Church Square, Hartlepool, TS24 7EQ
Date:
Feb 1st 2025 - Mar 29th 2025
Opening Times:
Tue-Sat 10:00 - 17:00
Price:
Free

Apollo Remastered

Apollo Remastered is an exhibition showcasing images from Andy Saunders’ extraordinary bestselling book of the same name. Saunders invites viewers to explore the Moon landings in spectacular high definition for the very first time. By applying pain-staking care and cutting-edge enhancement techniques, he has created the highest quality Apollo photographs ever produced.

Venue:
Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Beaumont Street, Hexham, NE46 3LS
Date:
Mar 14th 2025 - May 30th 2025
Opening Times:
Mon-Sat 10:00 - 16:00
Price:
Free

Houghton Art Club Exhibition

A collection of paintings produced by members of Houghton Art Club. The Houghton-le-Spring based club have regular meetings and participate in local art events and exhibitions. The Art Club meets every week at Houghton Miners Welfare Halland is known for being welcoming and friendly to new members, whether they are new to painting or experienced artists.

Venue:
Arts Centre Washington, Biddick Lane, Fatfield, Washington, NE38 8AB
Date:
Mar 4th 2025 - Apr 12th 2025
Opening Times:
Fri-Sat 09:00 - 16:00 , Wed 09:00 - 17:00 , Thu 09:00 - 21:00 , Tue 13:00 - 21:00
Price:
Free

Traces – An Interface Arts Exhibition

Local artists from the North East based group, Interface Arts, have been inspired to creatively interpret the theme of Traces, choosing many surprising subjects as their source of inspiration. Members have produced an eclectic mix of artwork in a range of mediums such as fused glass, painting, print and book making, various textile techniques and more. An imaginative and thought-provoking exhibition. New members are warmly welcome!

Venue:
Arts Centre Washington, Biddick Lane, Fatfield, Washington, NE38 8AB
Date:
Mar 28th 2025 - May 3rd 2025
Opening Times:
Fri-Sat 09:00 - 16:00 , Wed 09:00 - 17:00 , Thu 09:00 - 21:00 , Tue 13:00 - 21:00
Price:
Free

Autonomy

This exhibition showcases work made by autistic young people, living in Sunderland. The 16- to 25-year-olds have taken part in an eleven-month project entitled Autonomy which has enabled social connection through creative activity. The overarching aim is to ensure that young autistic people have the freedom and opportunity to collaboratively enjoy creative and cultural opportunities and celebrate their unique qualities and preferences.

Venue:
National Glass Centre, Liberty Way, Sunderland, SR6 0GL
Date:
Feb 18th 2025 - Apr 26th 2025
Opening Times:
Daily 10:00 - 17:00
Price:
Free

The Caravan Gallery: Sunderland Pride of Place Project - Ten Years On

In March 2015, The Caravan Gallery brought their weird and wonderful photographs celebrating everyday life in Britain to Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art. Over a hundred colour photographs full of humour, joy and social commentary were exhibited in the exhibition Extra(ordinary) Photographs of Britain. The exhibition was accompanied by a Pride of Place Project, in an empty shop unit on Fawcett Street, devised for Sunderland by photographers Jan Williams and Chris Teasdale of The Caravan Gallery. Ten years on they're revisiting this truly unique project with a new exhibition comprised of the material generated in Sunderland in 2015. The exhibition poses the questions – How has Sunderland changed in this time? What has Sunderland gained and lost? What makes you proud about Sunderland?

Venue:
Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, c/o National Glass Centre, Liberty Way, Sunderland, SR6 0GL
Date:
Mar 22nd 2025 - May 11th 2025
Opening Times:
Daily 10:00 - 17:00
Price:
Free

Ali Cook, Kate Sweeney: Being

‘Being’ is an exhibition bringing together two artists whose work employs the figure as a carrier and transgressor of narratives. Ali Cook’s work serves as an unfiltered exorcism of the current moment. Believing art – much like life – suffers from the same lack of connection that affects us as individuals, his recent work deals visually with this spectrum of isolation and co-dependency. Kate Sweeney’s work explores how familial bonds are formed beyond the materials and myths of blood and DNA. She utilises moments and materials from the everyday to focus upon the way bodies transfer and share information, emotions, feelings and histories.

Venue:
Vane, 65 High St, Gateshead, NE8 2AP
Date:
Mar 13th 2025 - Apr 5th 2025
Opening Times:
Wed-Sat 12:00 - 17:00
Price:
Free

Making Waves: An Exhibition Exploring Arts and Culture in South Tyneside

This exhibition brings together different arts projects which have taken place in South Tyneside in 2024, supported by Arts Council England. Together these projects explore what arts and culture is and where you can experience culture in South Tyneside. Through this installation you are invited to reflect on your own cultural experiences in South Tyneside whether it is performing arts, visual arts, music, literary or film.

Venue:
The Word, The National Centre for the Written Word, 45 Market Place, South Shields, NE33 1JF
Date:
Jan 27th 2025 - Apr 27th 2025
Opening Times:
Mon-Thu 09:00 - 19:00 , Fri 09:00 - 17:00 , Sat-Sun 10:00 - 16:00
Price:
Free

Everyday Algorithms

This exhibition highlights the active role humans play in creating code, designing algorithms and data structures. Focussing on under-recognised narratives within this field, the artworks show how algorithms can be used to support human needs, for care, community, and autonomy. Everyday Algorithms includes textiles, choreography, poetry, sound, video, commissions and public events by Sofia Barton, Joana Chicau, Polina Chizhova-Wright, Kin, Paul Dolan, Dave Griffiths, Mara Karagianni, Alex Leigh, Alex McLean, Richard Scott, Rob Smith, Winnie Soon, Paola Torres Nuñez Del Prado and Creative Code Club members.

Venue:
The NewBridge Project, Shieldfield Centre 4 - 8, Clarence Walk, off Stoddart St, Newcastle, NE2 1AL
Date:
Feb 21st 2025 - Apr 17th 2025
Opening Times:
Daily 12:00 - 17:00
Price:
Free

Railway Firsts

An exhibition highlighting trains, objects and innovations, both famous and unexpected, that have shaped the railways. The exhibition will spotlight the pivotal innovations and unexpected ‘firsts’ that shaped the railways and our history, presented through a series of eye-catching pop-up displays, as visitors journey through the museum. The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of family activities over the half term holidays on the theme of problem-solving.

Venue:
Locomotion, (previously Shildon Locomotion Museum), Dale Road Industrial Estate, Dale Road, Shildon, County Durham, DL4 2RE
Date:
Feb 15th 2025 - Dec 31st 2025
Opening Times:
Sun and Wed-Sat 10:00 - 17:00
Price:
Free

Fiona Sturrock

Fiona’s paintings demonstrate her love of colour; the practice of mixing colour, and laying down patterns of light, shade and texture to produce bold representations of her subjects. Expect a vibrant collection of still life and wildlife paintings.

Venue:
The Biscuit Factory, 16 Stoddard Street, Newcastle, NE2 1AN
Date:
Mar 7th 2025 - May 11th 2025
Opening Times:
Daily 10:00 - 17:00
Price:
Free

Through the Lens and Lead

An exhibition of the collaborative project Lens & Lead: A collection of Polaroid photographs and pencil illustration books. Founded by photographer Tom Robinson. Through these books, Tom and his partner photographers have collated an eclectic and intimate archive of polaroid portraits. Each being accompanied by a hand drawn self portrait by the person photographed, composed there on the spot while the photo develops in the photographers hand. The drawings are an insight into the individual’s unique expression of self perception.

Venue:
Newcastle Arts Centre, 67 Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SG
Date:
Mar 22nd 2025 - May 3rd 2025
Opening Times:
Sat 00:00 - 17:00 , Mon-Sat 09:30 - 17:00
Price:
Free

Access: Newcastle Cathedral

Speaking Up Together Beyond Boundaries is a self-advocacy group led by adults with learning disabilities and autistic people from the local area.This exhibition celebrates the group’s remarkable creativity, showcasing a selection of inspiring artwork and resources they have created.

Venue:
Newcastle Cathedral, St. Nicholas Sq, Newcastle, NE1 1DF
Date:
Feb 7th 2025 - Apr 2nd 2025
Opening Times:
Sat-Sun 08:00 - 17:00 , Mon-Fri 08:00 - 18:00
Price:
Free