Art - What’s On | The Crack Magazine

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

For All At Last Return

This new group exhibition initiated by Baltic will explore marine ecosystems, the deep sea, coral reefs, ocean currents, intertidal and hypoxic zones, and how human activities affect marine life. Inspired in part by Baltic’s close proximity to the sea, situated on a tidal river eight miles from the mouth of the Tyne, and by the writings of marine biologist Rachel Carson, the exhibition will reflect on life below water and consider our relationship with the community of organisms and aquatic life that inhabit ocean environments.

Venue:: BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, South Shore Road, Gateshead Quays, Gateshead, NE8 3BA
Date:: Nov 8th 2025 - May 3rd 2026
Opening Times:: Sun and Wed-Sat 10:00 - 18:00
Price:: Free

Saodat Ismailova

Saodat Ismailova is a filmmaker and artist who came of age in the post-Soviet era Uzbekistan. Working between Paris and Tashkent she interweaves rituals, myths and dreams within the tapestry of everyday life. Her films investigate the historically complex and layered culture of Central Asia. Frequently based around oral stories in which women are the lead protagonists, and exploring systems of knowledge suppressed by globalised modernity, these consciousness expanding works hover between visible and invisible worlds.

Venue:: BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, South Shore Road, Gateshead Quays, Gateshead, NE8 3BA
Date:: Nov 8th 2025 - May 3rd 2026
Opening Times:: Sun and Wed-Sat 10:00 - 18:00
Price:: Free

Dean Raymond Gooch: Bottoms

Bottoms is the first UK solo exhibition by Sunderland born and based artist-photographer, printmaker and researcher Dean Raymond Gooch (b. 1998). It showcases a new series of large photographic works, screenprints and risograph prints exploring gay identity, communities and fetish through striking imagery drawing on legacies of pop art, advertising and fashion photography. The photographs and prints are both detailed and abstracted, taking personal cues to highlight and challenge binaries and stereotypical gay imagery such as BDSM, tight worn jeans, colour coded hankies and black work boots.

Venue:: Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, c/o National Glass Centre, Liberty Way, Sunderland, SR6 0GL
Date:: Jan 31st 2026 - May 26th 2026
Opening Times:: Daily 10:00 - 17:00
Price:: Free

Journey of a Century: From the Forbidden City to the Palace Museum

2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Palace Museum in Beijing. Using archival and recent photographs, this exhibition presents the transformative 100 years of the Palace Museum from an imperial palace complex to a public institution that serves as a museum, research centre, cultural tourist attraction, historic palace complex, and World Heritage Site.

Venue:: Oriental Museum, Elvet Hill, (off South Road), Durham, DH1 3TH
Date:: Sep 26th 2025 - May 31st 2026
Opening Times:: Sat-Sun 12:00 - 16:00 , Tue and Thu-Fri 11:00 - 16:00 , Wed 10:00 - 17:00
Price:: Free

Experiment!

Join Georgie and Stephen on the new railway-themed time travel immersive experience ride. Take an extraordinarily vivid journey into passenger rail travel! Starting right here in Darlington in 1825 with Locomotion No. 1's first steam-powered passenger railway journey, take an exciting ride into the past to discover more about the history of the railways, and imagine where they will take us in the future!

Venue:: Hopetown, McNay Street, Darlington, DL3 6SW
Date:: Jan 20th 2026 - May 3rd 2026
Opening Times:: Sun and Tue-Sat 10:00 - 17:00
Price:: From £5

Life in Colour – Artworks by Sue Humphrey

Sue Humphrey paints in bright colours with simplified images to reflect the colours she sees in the world around her. Sue lives and paints in a small village in County Durham. She studied Fine Art at Newcastle University in the late 1960s. She sees colour in everything around her and reflects this in her work. She is influenced by the works of Hundertwasser, early Kandinsky and by Fauvism and Expressionism in general.

Venue:: The Witham, 3 Horsemarket, Barnard Castle, County Durham, DL12 8YL
Date:: Mar 31st 2026 - Apr 25th 2026
Opening Times:: Tue-Sat 10:00 - 16:00
Price:: Free

Milly Thompson: My Body Temperature is Feeling Good

A solo exhibition of work by the late Milly Thompson, a prolific painter, sculptor, video artist and writer. My Body Temperature is Feeling Good spotlights a particular blend of irony and sincerity that characterises the artist’s latter-day work, exploring romantic novels and sun-drenched summer holidays as spaces for escapism and sensual self-reinvention.

Venue:: BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, South Shore Road, Gateshead Quays, Gateshead, NE8 3BA
Date:: Mar 28th 2026 - Aug 30th 2026
Opening Times:: Sun and Wed-Sat 10:00 - 18:00
Price:: Free

Foundation Press: Starting Lines

Baltic is pleased to present Starting Lines, the first major solo exhibition, an interactive installation exploring creativity collaboration and community, by North-East-based artists and designers Foundation Press. The exhibition will feature material from the Foundation Press archive, including posters, banners, wallpapers and collaborative publications that traces their contribution and impact across design, print, and community practice over the last 10 years.

Venue:: BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, South Shore Road, Gateshead Quays, Gateshead, NE8 3BA
Date:: Mar 28th 2026 - Aug 30th 2026
Opening Times:: Sun and Wed-Sat 10:00 - 18:00
Price:: Free

Smoke and Mirrors: Landscapes from the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art Collection

Smoke and Mirrors draws on artworks from Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art’s collection in a group show exploring contemporary landscapes through photography, painting, sculpture, film, digitally generated artwork and drawing. The exhibition features artwork by 15 contemporary artists and photographers who challenge our understanding of landscape through digitally rendered and manipulated imagery, artificial immersive environments and imaginative fictional worlds.

Venue:: Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, c/o National Glass Centre, Liberty Way, Sunderland, SR6 0GL
Date:: Jan 31st 2026 - May 26th 2026
Opening Times:: Daily 10:00 - 17:00
Price:: Free

A British Museum Partnership Exhibition: Gladiators of Britain

Think of gladiators and your mind probably wanders to central Rome and the Colosseum (or Russell Crowe). But did you know there were gladiators in Britain? Carlisle was home to the largest fort on Hadrian’s Wall at the very northern edge of the empire – did gladiators walk where the museum stands today? This exhibition explores the violence, pageantry and graphic reality of the arena in Roman Britain through extraordinary objects from across the country.

Venue:: Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, Carlisle Street, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 8TP
Date:: Feb 7th 2026 - May 31st 2026
Opening Times:: Mon-Sat 10:00 - 16:00
Price:: Adult admission (valid for 12 months) £15/Under 18s Free

Paul Judson: Solo Exhibition

New work by County Durham artist Paul Judson.

Venue:: Ushaw: Historic House, Chapels and Gardens, Woodland Road, Durham, DH7 9RH
Date:: Mar 14th 2026 - Apr 26th 2026
Opening Times:: Mon-Sat 11:00 - 16:00
Price:: £14/under 18s £8/under 5s Free

150 Years of Wedding Dresses

This display showcases the exquisite craftsmanship and evolving trends that have defined one of the most memorable days in countless lives. Experience a celebration of bridal fashion from the last 150 years.

Venue:: Ushaw: Historic House, Chapels and Gardens, Woodland Road, Durham, DH7 9RH
Date:: Mar 28th 2026 - Aug 31st 2026
Opening Times:: Mon-Sat 11:00 - 16:00
Price:: £14/under 18s £8/under 5s Free

For Solidarity: Document H.E.T., Alternative Publishing and Community Undercurrents

A collection and study of pre-internet printed matter and ephemera. For this exhibition at The NewBridge Project, H.E.T. focuses on alternative living, community action, and autonomous struggles. Explore the collection of 1970s to 1990 dissident print culture, forming a backdrop for a public programme on solidarity today.

Venue:: The NewBridge Project, Shieldfield Centre 4 - 8, Clarence Walk, off Stoddart St, Newcastle, NE2 1AL
Date:: Mar 7th 2026 - May 1st 2026
Opening Times:: Thu-Sat 12:00 - 17:00 , Wed 13:00 - 17:00
Price:: Free

Kelp

Sponsored by, and in conjunction with Stronger Shores. Throughout 2025, members will be undertaking research with Blair Watson from Durham Wildlife Trust ‘Stronger Shores’ project. This DEFRA funded project has a focus on kelp with plans to establish an offshore kelp-growing facility.

Venue:: EDAN Gallery, The Art Block, 74 Church Street, Seaham, County Durham, SR7 7HF
Date:: Mar 10th 2026 - Apr 25th 2026
Opening Times:: Tue-Fri 11:00 - 15:00 , Sat 10:00 - 16:00
Price:: Free

May The Toys Be With You

From a galaxy far, far away comes an absolute must see for fans of Star Wars and the silver screen. One of the UK's finest collections of vintage Star Wars toys and original cinema posters is going on display in a stunning exhibition.

Venue:: Bailiffgate Museum, 14 Bailiffgate, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 1LX
Date:: Mar 5th 2026 - May 30th 2026
Opening Times:: Sun and Tue-Sat 10:00 - 16:00
Price:: £6/£5/under 16s £1/under 5s Free

Uncovering Roman Carlisle: Where Worlds Met

Discover the latest chapter in the ongoing exploration of Roman Carlisle. This new exhibition is the third in the series showcasing the remarkable discoveries from the Uncovering Roman Carlisle archaeological dig at Carlisle Cricket Club in Stanwix – one of the most exciting archaeological projects in the region. Where Worlds Met explores themes of migration and settlement, revealing that movement and cultural exchange were central to life in Roman Carlisle.

Venue:: Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, Carlisle Street, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 8TP
Date:: Feb 7th 2026 - May 31st 2026
Opening Times:: Mon-Sat 10:00 - 16:00
Price:: Adult admission (valid for 12 months) £15/Under 18s Free

All Aboard!

Step inside and explore Preston Park Museum's new, interactive exhibition which has been specially created for children. Little designers, engineers and drivers will be able to get hands-on with wheels to turn, coal to shovel and pistons to pump in the giant replica train and themed play zones. Families will be able to take part in a journey of discovery through play to understand the important story of the Stockton and Darlington Railway.

Venue:: Preston Park Museum, Yarm Road, Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 3RH
Date:: Sep 13th 2025 - Sep 13th 2026
Opening Times:: Sun and Tue-Sat 10:00 - 16:00
Price:: £12/£8/under 3s Free

Perfume

Internationally renowned, contemporary visual artist Yann Nguema presents an immersive experience that explores the surprising role railways play in the natural world, from supporting seed distribution to aiding pollination as trains move through the countryside. Inside the museum's new exhibition space, The Spence Building, visitors will be surrounded by gentle waves of colour and light, accompanied to the rhythm of an atmospheric soundtrack composed by Zero Gr4vity, creating hypnotic, poetic landscapes.

Venue:: Preston Park Museum, Yarm Road, Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 3RH
Date:: Jan 17th 2026 - May 10th 2026
Opening Times:: Sun and Tue-Sat 10:00 - 16:00
Price:: £12/£8/under 3s Free

Newcastle Quayside at 40

2026 marks forty years since the inception of the plan to regenerate Newcastle’s Quayside which had fallen into decay and disrepair. This exhibition explores the ideas and aspirations that shaped the regeneration plan, the individuals and organisations who drove them forward, and the circumstances that made the project such a success.

Venue:: Farrell Centre, The Sir Terry Farrell Building, Eldon Place, Newcastle, NE1 7RD
Date:: Feb 26th 2026 - Dec 18th 2026
Opening Times:: Sun and Wed-Sat 10:00 - 17:00
Price:: Free

Housing Standardisation

What does a typical home in England look like? How does it compare to housing in other countries? How are these homes designed? And what is it like to live in them? This exhibition explores these questions through in-depth international and local case-studies of a range of homes. Through photographs, models and plans, it considers how housing design is shaped by policy regulations, local cultures and expectations and lived experiences of residents.

Venue:: Farrell Centre, The Sir Terry Farrell Building, Eldon Place, Newcastle, NE1 7RD
Date:: Feb 26th 2026 - Dec 18th 2026
Opening Times:: Sun and Wed-Sat 10:00 - 17:00
Price:: Free

Rachael Woodman: Journeys in Glass

This special exhibition in the Faith Museum showcases the work of Rachael Woodman, who has been a glassmaker for over 40 years. Drawing upon a lifetime of experience, Rachael Woodman creates technically ambitious sculptures that are deeply rooted in her Christian faith. In this exhibition, the artist shares personal reflections on her spiritual journey. The works on display are both a celebration of the beauty and versatility of glass, and a meditation on the joyful act of worship.

Venue:: Faith Museum, Auckland Palace, Market Place, Bishop Auckland, DL14 7NR
Date:: Feb 18th 2026 - Jul 1st 2026
Opening Times:: Sun and Wed-Sat 10:30 - 16:00
Price:: Free with Auckland Palace/Faith Museum admission

RELAY [02]

The second stage of a group exhibition in two parts, co-curated by hardcopy* and Thomas Grffiths. Stage across two cities that share a common industrial heritage- Sheffield and Middlesbrough- the exhibition brings together a diverse range of concerns, considering how objects and surfaces carry layered histories and reveal the residues of industrial processes, environmental change, and human activity.

Venue:: Platform A Gallery, Middlesbrough Railway Station, Zetland Road, Middlesbrough, TS1 1EG
Date:: Mar 19th 2026 - May 4th 2026
Opening Times:: Tue-Fri 10:00 - 16:00
Price:: Free

Sublime Landscapes

This exhibition features landscape watercolours and prints from the Laing Art Gallery’s collection responding to the potential for landscape art to be awe-inspiring. Visitors will encounter dramatic waterfalls, epic ruins, stormy seas, and subterranean worlds through the eyes of artists working between the eighteenth century – when the concept of the ‘sublime’ first gained prominence within landscape art - and the present day. The artists on display include John Robert Cozens, Mary Elizabeth Bennett, Francis Towne, David Cox, John Martin, Charles Napier Hemy, Edna Clarke Hall, Graham Sutherland, and Dennis Creffield.

Venue:: Laing Art Gallery, New Bridge Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8AG
Date:: Dec 20th 2025 - Dec 5th 2026
Opening Times:: Mon-Sat 10:00 - 16:30
Price:: Free

Vivienne Westwood: Rebel – Storyteller – Visionary

Charting Westwood’s journey following her punk rebellion with Malcolm McLaren to her reinvention of historical dress and couture and featuring rarely seen pieces from private collections, this exhibition offers an unprecedented glimpse into Westwood’s artistry. Calico toiles, deconstructed garments and ensembles are displayed chronologically alongside historic objects from the museum’s collection, fusing rebellion with tradition.

Venue:: The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, County Durham, DL12 8NP
Date:: Mar 28th 2026 - Sep 6th 2026
Opening Times:: Daily 10:00 - 17:00
Price:: £19.50/under 18s Free

Narbi Price: Shadow on the Things You Know

A body of paintings that show anonymous sites loaded with cultural importance and varied histories. Unpeopled locations offer the opportunity to wonder and wander through shifting landscapes, of pilgrimage to some and indifference to others. History and time is encoded into the making of the paintings and the deeper time and resonances they evoke.

Venue:: Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Beaumont Street, Hexham, NE46 3LS
Date:: Mar 6th 2026 - May 30th 2026
Opening Times:: Mon-Sat 10:00 - 16:00
Price:: Free

Images of Jazz

Dave Barden is a figurative painter with a particular interest in jazz music. He uses a wide range of references to inform his work such as magazine photographs, posters, vintage record sleeves and packaging, some of which appear as collage in his paintings. Recently he has focused on working directly from live events and performances, visiting regional music venues such as the Globe in Newcastle, Usher College in Durham, the Pele in Corbridge and Queen's Hall in Hexham, where he was artist-in-residence at the Northumberland Jazz Festival.

Venue:: Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Beaumont Street, Hexham, NE46 3LS
Date:: Mar 6th 2026 - May 30th 2026
Opening Times:: Mon-Sat 10:00 - 16:00
Price:: Free

Joan Miró: Painting and Poetry

This exhibition brings together lithographic prints created to illustrate the writings of the celebrated French surrealist poet Robert Desnos. The prints are an excellent example of the richness and variety of Miró’s print production as well as his famous experimentation with vivid colours and abstract shapes.

Venue:: Ushaw: Historic House, Chapels and Gardens, Woodland Road, Durham, DH7 9RH
Date:: Apr 18th 2026 - Jun 14th 2026
Opening Times:: Mon-Sat 11:00 - 16:00
Price:: Adults £14 / Children £8 / under 5s free / annual memberships available

Present Continuous, Present Imperfect

An exhibition by Rory Williams that attends to the often unnoticed moments that make up the texture of the everyday, bringing together paintings, prints, and drawings that linger on the small, unguarded intervals of daily life. Lost objects, scattered bowls after a meal, a fleeting meeting between generations – these moments, often passed over, are held long enough to reveal their quiet resonance.

Venue:: Arts Centre Washington, Biddick Lane, Fatfield, Washington, NE38 8AB
Date:: Mar 27th 2026 - Apr 25th 2026
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

Debbie Todd: The Meaning of Being Different

Debbie Todd is a portrait photographer based in County Durham. Her practise concentrates on telling stories of marginalised people mainly from working class backgrounds in a fine art style. Inspired by old master painters and contemporary photographers, she tries to create images that engage the viewer visually to enable them to understand the story of the subject in their own way.

Venue:: Bishop Auckland Town Hall, Market Place, Bishop Auckland, DL14 7NP
Date:: Feb 16th 2026 - May 16th 2026
Opening Times:: Mon-Sat 10:00 - 16:00
Price:: Free

The Graduates

After 28 wonderfully creative years, National Glass Centre takes its final bow on Friday 31 July 2026. Their closing exhibition is The Graduates, which will be a celebration of the incredible achievements and successes of the University of Sunderland’s Glass and Ceramics Department over the past three decades. The Graduates features the work of 51 artists; made up of graduates and staff members of University of Sunderland’s Glass and Ceramics Department, including seven invited artists alongside 44 selected artists.

Venue:: National Glass Centre, Liberty Way, Sunderland, SR6 0GL
Date:: Jan 31st 2026 - Jul 31st 2026
Opening Times:: Daily 10:00 - 17:00
Price:: Free

Apocalypse Remix

A new community exhibition co-created by artist Edek Thompson & the communities of Redcar & Cleveland. Working with local artists and community groups Apocalypse Remix is a showcase of local talent, a visual manifesto for the future, and a demonstration of the positive impact of creativity on wellbeing.

Venue:: The Redcar Palace, Palace 28, 28-29 Esplanade, Redcar, TS10 3AE
Date:: Mar 27th 2026 - Jun 14th 2026
Opening Times:: Tue-Sat 10:00 - 16:00
Price:: Free

John Timberlake: Berwick Sequence

John Timberlake first visited Berwick as a child in the 1970s, and both the town, its coastal location and the River Tweed made a lasting impression upon him. He returned in 2024, shortly after the death of his father and began a series of initial drawings, colour studies and reference photographs to inform the paintings in this exhibition. On two further visits he met and undertook site visits with Northumberland-based geologists and archaeologists. Timberlake was inspired by the momentary shifts of light and weather that are typical of the Tweed estuary and the coastal location of Berwick, alongside the geological shifts of deep time evident in the local topography. The resulting works reflect on landscape as a construction of space and time.

Venue:: Granary Gallery, Dewar’s Lane, Berwick-upon-Tweed, TD15 1HJ
Date:: Mar 7th 2026 - May 24th 2026
Opening Times:: Sun and Wed-Sat 11:00 - 16:00
Price:: Free

The Northumberland Open Exhibition 2026

The exhibition attracts hundreds of 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 14th 2026 - May 10th 2026
Opening Times:: Sun and Wed-Sat 10:00 - 16:00
Price:: £10/£9/under 18s Free

Tom McGuinness: Out of the Darkness

Tom McGuinness found a rich seam of artistic inspiration in the coal mines of County Durham, painting the industry and its people from his own experiences. The studious Tom saw more in the scene than most people would and, with an artist’s eye, a comprehensive knowledge and a clarity of thought, interpreted this for us all to comprehend. His visceral depictions of life underground serve as a powerful, emotive reminder of the lives lived by many in the mining communities of the North East.

Venue:: Mining Art Gallery, Bishop Auckland, County Durham
Date:: Feb 18th 2026 - Dec 24th 2026
Opening Times:: Sun and Wed-Sat 10:30 - 16:00
Price:: Included with Bishop's Key which gives 12 months admission to the Auckland Project for £30/£13.50 child/family from £45

Jewish Industrialists on the Team Valley

Jewish Industrialists on the Team Valley: the formative years of a trading estate 1936-1945 tells the little-known story of the contribution and impact that Jewish light industries had on the development of the Team Valley Trading Estate in Gateshead – the first government-financed trading estate in the country and opened in 1936.

Venue:: Discovery Museum, (Closed on all Bank Holidays) Blandford Square, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4JA
Date:: Feb 7th 2026 - Jan 31st 2027
Opening Times:: Sat-Sun 11:00 - 16:00 , Mon-Fri 10:00 - 16:00
Price:: Free

HAPPY!

An exhibition curated from the Jerwood Collection by the Hatton Gallery’s young people’s group, L-INK. The Jerwood Collection is a preeminent collection of modern British art, offering the group an unparalleled opportunity to work with a range of major artworks by British Artists.

Venue:: Hatton Gallery, The Quadrangle, University of Newcastle, 6 Kensington Terrace, Newcastle, NE1 7RU
Date:: Feb 14th 2026 - May 9th 2026
Opening Times:: Mon-Sat 10:00 - 17:00
Price:: Free

Women Behind Bars: Life in Newcastle Prison, 1828–1925

A powerful exhibition which uncovers the hidden histories of women in Newcastle Prison. Drawing on Newcastle Prison: A History 1828–1925 (Tyne Bridge Publishing, 2025), the exhibition brings to light the stories of young girls, women affected by poverty and addiction, and suffragettes who challenged the boundaries of their time. Together, these voices reveal the realities of crime, punishment and resilience in a society shaped by inequality.

Venue:: Newcastle Cathedral, St. Nicholas Sq, Newcastle, NE1 1DF
Date:: Mar 5th 2026 - Apr 27th 2026
Opening Times:: Sat-Sun 08:00 - 17:00 , Mon-Fri 08:00 - 18:00
Price:: Free

Joe Woodhouse: From the Foundations

From the Foundations celebrates the life and work of Joe Woodhouse through drawings, photographs and films from an archive spanning over three decades of his artistic practice. Also on display are Woodhouse’s exhibition plans, sketchbooks and notebooks, providing deeper insight into his working methods and creative processes.

Venue:: National Glass Centre, Liberty Way, Sunderland, SR6 0GL
Date:: Mar 2nd 2026 - May 9th 2026
Opening Times:: Daily 10:00 - 17:00
Price:: Free

Hester Berry: Where the Light Falls

A new collection of expressive landscape oil paintings by Hester Berry, rooted in reverence and close observation of the rural environments she knows best. At its heart, this exhibition is both a celebration of the natural world and a gentle reminder to cherish and protect it - an invitation to slow down and notice the changing seasons and subtle shifts of light. Each work seeks to accurately represent a moment, distilled down to its essentials through bold, economical mark-making. Squinting, bleary-eyed, against the sun. A brief moment of joy and clarity. A heightened awareness of place.

Venue:: The Biscuit Factory, 16 Stoddard Street, Newcastle, NE2 1AN
Date:: Mar 6th 2026 - May 3rd 2026
Opening Times:: Daily 10:00 - 17:00
Price:: Free

Becoming La Voix

A spectacular new exhibition celebrating the extraordinary career of internationally acclaimed performer La Voix, one of Stockton-on-Tees' most successful and beloved entertainers. The exhibition shines a spotlight on the singer, performer and all-round showstopper whose unmistakable style, sharp wit and powerhouse vocals have captivated audiences across the UK and around the world. Visitors are invited to step behind the curtain and discover a treasure trove of iconic costumes, glittering accessories, photographs and personal memorabilia, all generously loaned by La Voix herself.

Venue:: Preston Park Museum, Yarm Road, Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 3RH
Date:: Feb 20th 2026 - Jun 28th 2026
Opening Times:: Sun and Tue-Sat 10:00 - 16:00
Price:: £12/£8/under 3s Free

Graham Williamson: Song of the Suburbs

A film by Graham Williamson telling the surprising and intriguing story of a hidden Britain, in partnership with the BFI. As part of the BFI’s National Archive Our Screen Heritage programme, Teesside based film-maker Graham Williamson has compiled nearly a century of archive footage from movies, television, amateur film and the internet to tell the story of the British suburbs. Are they conformist or eccentric? Conservative or radical? Normal or surreal? Song of the Suburbs reveals they’re all these things, and more.

Venue:: Farrell Centre, The Sir Terry Farrell Building, Eldon Place, Newcastle, NE1 7RD
Date:: Mar 5th 2026 - Jun 26th 2026
Opening Times:: Sun and Wed-Sat 10:00 - 17:00
Price:: Free

Archaeology ‘Open Lab’

Archaeologists uncovering the hidden history of Auckland Palace are inviting the public behind the scenes as historic finds from eight years of excavations are analysed in a new ‘open laboratory’ in Bishop Auckland town centre. After the trowels are put down, the archaeological work continues in the post-excavation’ phase. This work involves looking in detail at all the objects dug up. Experts weigh, count, catalogue and describe everything they have found so that we can understand even more about how the Bishops’ Palace was used. Normally this work happens in laboratories behind closed doors, but now this workis being done in public view here in the ‘open lab’.

Venue:: The Hearth, (formerly Mrs M's), 1 Market Place, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL14 7NJ
Date:: Jan 16th 2026 - Dec 31st 2026
Opening Times:: 16th Jan - 31st Dec 2026 TBC
Price:: Free

Treasure: Hidden, Lost, Found

Step into the fascinating world of treasure and see some amazing archaeological finds from across the North of England. Roman coins, Viking Age silver, and a buried stash of Tudor coins will all feature in this glittering new exhibition. Explore what makes something valuable - culturally, historically, and personally. Who owns the past? What stories do these objects tell? With thought-provoking displays and interactives, there’s something to spark curiosity in visitors of all ages. Featuring extraordinary finds from the British Museum, National Museum of Scotland, Vindolanda, and the Great North Museum: Hancock, this is your chance to see why buried history matters.

Venue:: Great North Museum: Hancock, Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4PT
Date:: Mar 28th 2026 - Sep 20th 2026
Opening Times:: Mon-Fri 10:00 - 17:00 , Sun 11:00 - 16:00 , Sat 10:00 - 16:00
Price:: Free

Picture This: Someone Like Me

An artwork exhibition that creatively showcases postgraduate research happening at Newcastle University. The exhibition features illustrated artworks and personal reflections that explore the many different pathways into research and challenge common ideas about who researchers are and where they come from. Alongside the artworks, the exhibition will come alive through interactive events, family-friendly activities, and opportunities to meet the researchers themselves. Visitors are invited to explore research through creativity and conversation, discover the people behind the work, and reflect on how diverse experiences and perspectives shape the way knowledge is created.

Venue:: Great North Museum: Hancock, Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4PT
Date:: Mar 13th 2026 - Jan 17th 2027
Opening Times:: Mon-Fri 10:00 - 17:00 , Sun 11:00 - 16:00 , Sat 10:00 - 16:00
Price:: Free

Fusako Yoshikawa - Japanese Woodblock Prints

Northern Print is delighted to showcase new works by Japanese artist Fusako Yoshikawa. Each colour is printed from a separately carved block, with ink transferred solely by the pressure of her hand. These carefully layered works are produced in small editions.

Venue:: Northern Print, Stepney Bank, Newcastle, NE1 2NP
Date:: Mar 18th 2026 - May 8th 2026
Opening Times:: 18th Mar - 8th May 2026 12:00 - 16:00
Price:: Free

Rebel Women of Sunderland

Discover the bold, brilliant and boundary-breaking women who have shaped Sunderland in this powerful and thought-provoking exhibition. Updated for 2026, view all 30 Kathryn Robertson illustrations under one roof, for the first time. Rebel Women of Sunderland celebrates extraordinary local women, past and present, whose stories deserve to be seen and heard. From activists and artists to campaigners, pioneers and everyday trailblazers, the exhibition brings their achievements into focus through immersive storytelling, vibrant visuals and a compelling podcast series.

Venue:: Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens, Mowbray Gardens, Burdon Road, Sunderland, SR1 1PP
Date:: Mar 13th 2026 - Aug 1st 2026
Opening Times:: Sat 10:00 - 16:00 , Mon-Fri 09:30 - 17:00
Price:: Free

Spring Season

The theme for Spring is inspired by the headline exhibition by landscape painter Hester Berry titled ‘Where the light falls’ – a collection that lifts the spirits and encourages quiet contemplation. Artists including Sarah Morgan and Gail Mason further explore these themes in their painting and print collections, drawing inspiration from the natural landscape, light and weather, inviting calm reflection. Matthew Wood uses light within interior spaces to bring us glimpses of overlooked corners of historic buildings, whilst jeweller Matilda Press uses silver and gem stones to create geometric and organic forms to mimic light patterns.

Venue:: The Biscuit Factory, 16 Stoddard Street, Newcastle, NE2 1AN
Date:: Mar 7th 2026 - May 3rd 2026
Opening Times:: Daily 10:00 - 17:00
Price:: Free

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award 2025 and Exploring Identity

This spring and summer, visitors will have the chance to chart the history of portrait painting from the 16th century to the present day in two complementary exhibitions containing some of the finest historic, modern, and contemporary portraits. The Laing Art Gallery will show the National Portrait Gallery’s celebrated painting competition, the Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award 2025, now in its 43rd year. The exhibition will be shown alongside Exploring Identity, a portraiture exhibition curated from North East Museums’ art collections that provides historical context to the Portrait Award.

Venue:: Laing Art Gallery, New Bridge Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8AG
Date:: Mar 28th 2026 - Sep 5th 2026
Opening Times:: Mon-Sat 10:00 - 16:30
Price:: £11/£10

Doorways

Imagine you open a mysterious door and a breeze blows through your hair. These are the winds of time, hidden behind doorways just waiting to be discovered. This film has been created by a group of filmmakers from Beacon Films in response to the Great North Museum: Hancock and its collections. Beacon Films is a production company based in the North East of England, which supports the talents and creativity of d/Deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent filmmakers.

Venue:: Great North Museum: Hancock, Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4PT
Date:: Mar 10th 2026 - Apr 26th 2026
Opening Times:: Mon-Fri 10:00 - 17:00 , Sun 11:00 - 16:00 , Sat 10:00 - 16:00
Price:: Free

After the Fire

Around the year AD 300, a catastrophic fire destroyed many buildings of the fort. The 2026 exhibition explores what was rebuilt over the ruins and examines life at Arbeia during the fourth century, leading up to the end of Roman rule in Britain.

Venue:: Arbeia Roman Fort and Museum, Baring Street, South Shields, NE33 2BB
Date:: Mar 30th 2026 - Sep 27th 2026
Opening Times:: Mon-Fri 10:00 - 17:00 , Sun 13:00 - 16:00 , Sat 11:00 - 16:00
Price:: Free

Following the Eagle

The exhibition will showcase rare Roman military diplomas inscribed on bronze, alongside other archaeological artefacts, exploring themes of identity, service, and travel within the Roman army. The Roman state adopted the eagle as an emblem to show that as well as power and authority, they had divine favour on their side. The army used it as a symbol since it embodied Rome itself and her honour.

Venue:: Segedunum Roman Fort, 2 Buddle Street, Wallsend, NE28 6HR
Date:: Mar 28th 2026 - Oct 3rd 2026
Opening Times:: Mon-Sat 10:00 - 15:00 , Daily 10:00 - 17:00
Price:: £7.75/£5.50/under 22s and NE28 residents Free

Kate Sampson Ceramics Exhibition

"My ceramic work focuses on traditional wheel thrown forms which are brought to life with intricate hand illustrated decoration. I throw using stoneware, earthenware, or porcelain, working into the clay using an array of decorative materials and techniques including coloured slips, ceramic pencils, oxides, glazes, paper cut outs, wax resist, and sgraffito. Themes are centred around a joyous appreciation for the natural world and reflect my love of traditional folk art and historical craft."

Venue:: The Old School Gallery, Foxton Road, Alnmouth, Northumberland, NE66 3NH
Date:: Apr 3rd 2026 - May 4th 2026
Opening Times:: Daily 10:00 - 16:00
Price:: Free

Tabby Booth Exhibition

Tabby Booth is a Cornwall-based artist known for her bold, signature silhouettes that bridge the gap between illustration and traditional folk art. With a passion for interiors, each piece is designed with this in mind, threaded with themes of beasts, folklore, the sea, and the captivating charm of outsider art.

Venue:: The Old School Gallery, Foxton Road, Alnmouth, Northumberland, NE66 3NH
Date:: Apr 3rd 2026 - May 4th 2026
Opening Times:: Daily 10:00 - 16:00
Price:: Free