‘The Ribs Begin to Rise’ is the first institutional solo show by Ro Robertston, and you can see it in all its glory at National Gallery for Contemporary Art in Sunderland. Fittingly, this show is being staged in Ro Robertson’s hometown of Sunderland – …

In a major new commission at The Bowes Museum, acclaimed artist Pippa Hale has reimagined the museum’s renowned ceramic collection into a vibrant interactive experience for all ages. Naturally, The Bowes Museum’s ceramic collection is rather fragile. N…

‘Past and Future Pact’ is a new body of work by artist Jill McKnight, which comprises sculpture, works on paper and video, all of which is inspired by Sunderland’s industrial heritage. See it at the NGCA. Jill McKnight has brought together research fro…

Once again, The Hatton Gallery is the place to head if you want to check out the extraordinary new work from students on Newcastle University’s MFA Fine Art Degree course. I never miss these shows as I love getting a handle on which way the art world i…

‘Where Were You Last Summer?’ is an exhibition at Arts Centre Washington that platforms the voices of South Asian women against the backdrop of last summer’s violence and unrest. The riots that erupted in the UK last year were among the most shocking …

MIMA in Middlesbrough has all sorts of good stuff going on over the summer months, and you can grab all the info on these – as well as news on a very exciting announcement – from the text below… And let’s trumpet that very exciting announcement first u…

Climate Action Middlesbrough are currently presenting ‘Our Place in the Family of Things’ at the Dorman Museum, an exhibition that looks at our relationship to the natural world, climate change, climate action, ecology and care. One of the UK’s greates…

Gail-Nina Anderson checks out the work of Cedric Morris, which is currently bringing untold joy to the Granary Gallery in Berwick. It’s an understated little accolade to which few twentieth century painters might aspire, but the inscription on Cedric Mor…

‘Where Were You Last Summer’ is a new show at Arts Centre Washington that examines hidden voices of dissent from a South Asian perspective. This show features the work of two women: Sehr Jalil (that’s her work, pictured) and Padma Rao, two visual artis…

‘Spirit of the North East’ is a very excellent retrospective currently showing at South Shields Museum & Art Gallery that showcases the paintings of Richard Hobson. Richard Hobson (1945-2004) was a painter who managed to capture the changing landscapes…

Three rare Magna Cartas are going on display at Durham Cathedral in order to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the 1225 issue that is in the cathedral’s collection. Oh, my! What a show ‘Magna Carta and the North’ is. This magnificent exhibition has no…

‘The Wonderful World of the Ladybird Artists’ is explored in a wonderful exhibition at Ushaw in County Durham that celebrates the artists that gave those children’s books their unique appeal. There’s nothing that Helen Day doesn’t know about Ladybird b…

Gail-Nina Anderson checks out “With These Hands” at the Laing Art Gallery, the new exhibition that explores the representation of craft in paintings, drawings and prints. In the days before Tracey Emin and Grayson Perry, there was a time when “Craft” and…

Visit The Bowes Museum to discover the timeless elegance, craftsmanship and innovation of the Joséphine Bowes’ textile collection. This captivating display features everything from opulent historical textiles to the cutting-edge creations of French hau…

‘Remember, Somewhere’ is a remarkable exhibition at Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art that brings together the work of twin sisters Laura Lancaster and Rachel Lancaster. What do we speak of when we speak of a life? Look around you. Is it your house, y…

Go deep into the story behind Middlesbrough iconic sculpture ‘Bottle of Notes’ at Mima. ‘Bottle of Notes’ is the only UK work by celebrated artists Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, and over the last thirty years that it’s been in situ, the nine-…