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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

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

Kwaidan: Encounters with Lafacadio Hearn

A captivating touring exhibition of gothic Japanese fairytales inspired by the writing of Lafcadio Hearn’s Kwaidan book of Japanese ghost stories. Perfect for spooky season! Hearn studied at Ushaw in the 1860s, subsequently he travelled in America and the Caribbean before settling in Japan. Renowned for his late nineteenth century works on Japanese life and culture, the exhibition features individual prints from 40 artists in response to the ghost stories.

Venue:
Ushaw: Historic House, Chapels and Gardens, Woodland Road, Durham, DH7 9RH
Date:
Sep 6th 2025 - Nov 2nd 2025
Opening Times:
Mon-Sat 11:00 - 16:00
Price:
£10/under 18s £6/under 5s 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

All Change! The Social Impact of the Stockton & Darlington Railway in the 200 years after 1825

A colourful new exhibition focusing on the impact of passenger railways on North-East life. Celebrating the 200th anniversary of the first locomotive passenger train – a local invention that transformed the world – the importance and magnitude of the birth of the Stockton and Darlington Railway on transport systems around the globe cannot be measured.

Venue:
The Story, Mount Oswald, South Road, Durham, DH1 3TQ
Date:
May 26th 2025 - Jan 30th 2026
Opening Times:
Sat-Sun 10:00 - 17:00 , Thu 00:00 - 19:00 , Mon-Fri 00:00 - 17:00
Price:
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:
£19.50/under 18s Free

Pippa Hale: Pet Project

Showcasing a solo commission by acclaimed artist, Pippa Hale, Pet Project sees the museum’s renowned ceramic collection re-imagined into a vibrant and interactive experience for all ages. With larger-than-life, soft recreations of animal figurines that can be played with, art and animal lovers can explore a display of the original ceramics that inspired them and share their own cherished items with the community. Be inspired as you learn about the traditional decorating and manufacturing techniques, as well as the cultural stories behind the collection, and create your own charming figurines to take home.

Venue:
The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, County Durham, DL12 8NP
Date:
Jul 26th 2025 - Mar 1st 2026
Opening Times:
Daily 10:00 - 17:00
Price:
£19.50/under 18s Free

Shakespeare Recovered: Durham's First Folio

In December 1998, the Durham First Folio, a copy of William Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies, was stolen along with six other items while on display in Cosin’s Library. For a decade, there was no news of the missing books and Durham University had to accept that the First Folio was lost. But the story didn’t end there. In 2008, a badly damaged book was brought to the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington D.C. The book was presented to experts as a newly discovered copy of the First Folio that needed authentication for sale. Staff at the Folger quickly recognised the possibility that this book was in fact Durham’s missing copy and after verification it was returned to its rightful home on Palace Green. This exhibition tells the story of what happened next, exploring the work of our conservation team to make the First Folio accessible again. Visit to see a rare and important cultural artefact and experience a book as you’ve never seen one before.

Venue:
Palace Green Library, Palace Green, Durham, DH1 3RN
Date:
Apr 4th 2025 - Nov 2nd 2025
Opening Times:
Daily 10:00 - 17:00
Price:
Free

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Magna Carta and the North

Durham Cathedral is fortunate to possess three issues of Magna Carta, including the only surviving 1216 issue and further engrossments from 1225 and 1300, along with three Forest Charters including one of only two surviving 1217 issues, and further issues from 1225 and 1300. Recognised as being one of the most important documents in history, Magna Carta was first issued in 1215. It established the principle that everyone is subject to the law, even the King himself, and guaranteed the rights of individuals, the right to justice and the right to a fair trial. With three clauses from the 1225 Magna Carta still in force today, the document remains a cornerstone of British democracy. 800 years after the 1225 Magna Carta was issued, this exhibition will feature all six documents, exploring why Durham Cathedral came to have them, what they meant for life in the north of England, and their continuing importance today.

Venue:
Durham Cathedral, Chapter Office, Palace Green, Durham, DH1 3EH
Date:
Jul 11th 2025 - Nov 2nd 2025
Opening Times:
Mon-Sat 10:00 - 16:00 , Sun 12:00 - 16:00
Price:
£7.50/under 18s Free

British Wildlife Photography Awards

A revered showcase of nature photography in Britain and a crucial reminder of what value our woodlands, wetlands and other ecosystems still hold with award-winning photographs from different categories including animal behaviour, animal portraits, botanic Britain, black and white, British seasons, coast and marine, habitat, hidden Britain, urban wildlife and wild woods.

Venue:
Bishop Auckland Town Hall, Market Place, Bishop Auckland, DL14 7NP
Date:
Sep 13th 2025 - Nov 29th 2025
Opening Times:
Mon-Sat 10:00 - 16:00
Price:
Free

Streets Above: Photographs of the roads and buildings that covered Roman Wallsend 

Housing built for ship-workers in the late 19th century once covered the whole site of the Roman fort and the surrounding areas. Most of these streets were demolished in the 1970s and 1980s, and the area was transformed. These photographs are records of those streets, and how this area once looked very different.

Venue:
Segedunum Roman Fort, 2 Buddle Street, Wallsend, NE28 6HR
Date:
Apr 1st 2025 - Nov 1st 2025
Opening Times:
Mon-Sat 10:00 - 15:00 , Daily 10:00 - 17:00
Price:
Adults: £3.98 | £2.98 Concessions ( includes £1 voluntary donation), NE28 residents Free

Collecting the Past 

The aim of many of the local museums set up in the 19th century was to have ‘the world under one roof’, so they collected a wide range of objects from around the world, including archaeological pieces. This exhibition looks at some of these objects and explores what we know – or don’t know – about them now. 

Venue:
Segedunum Roman Fort, 2 Buddle Street, Wallsend, NE28 6HR
Date:
Apr 1st 2025 - Nov 1st 2025
Opening Times:
Mon-Sat 10:00 - 15:00 , Daily 10:00 - 17:00
Price:
Adults: £3.98 | £2.98 Concessions ( includes £1 voluntary donation), NE28 residents Free

Cogs and Carnivals

Roll up, roll up and celebrate the fascinating world of cogs and carnivals! The exhibition brings all the fun of a vintage funfair to The Word, featuring mechanical marvels and games which you can play, move and explore. The installation will bemuse, baffle and bewilder with 30 interactive mechanics, inspired by the fairground and created by renowned and international artists.

Venue:
The Word, The National Centre for the Written Word, 45 Market Place, South Shields, NE33 1JF
Date:
Jul 7th 2025 - Nov 2nd 2025
Opening Times:
Sat-Sun 10:00 - 16:00 , Fri 09:00 - 17:00 , Mon-Thu 09:00 - 19:00
Price:
Free

The Battle of Britain in North-East England

An exhibition of Battle of Britain paintings by local artist Denis Fox. The exhibition is timed to coincide with the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Venue:
Ushaw: Historic House, Chapels and Gardens, Woodland Road, Durham, DH7 9RH
Date:
Aug 30th 2025 - Nov 16th 2025
Opening Times:
Mon-Sat 11:00 - 16:00
Price:
Adults £14 / Children £8 / under 5s free / annual memberships available

Ro Robertson: The Ribs Begin To Rise

The first institutional solo show by contemporary artist Ro Robertson presenting a newly commissioned series of sculptural works alongside large-scale drawings and a video installation. Staged on the banks of the River Wear in Robertson’s hometown of Sunderland, The Ribs Begin to Rise takes inspiration from its location. It draws on the mouth of the River Wear, Sunderland Docks, Hendon Paper Works, the ropeworks and the 700 female shipbuilders who lived and worked in Sunderland. The exhibition reflects on Robertson’s family working-class history and the materials key to the industries which came to define Robertson’s upbringing and the region.

Venue:
Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, c/o National Glass Centre, Liberty Way, Sunderland, SR6 0GL
Date:
Jul 26th 2025 - Jan 10th 2026
Opening Times:
Daily 10:00 - 17:00
Price:
Free

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Durham Art Group 2025

A selling exhibition of new work by members of this thriving local art group.

Venue:
Ushaw: Historic House, Chapels and Gardens, Woodland Road, Durham, DH7 9RH
Date:
Sep 13th 2025 - Nov 9th 2025
Opening Times:
Mon-Sat 11:00 - 16:00
Price:
Adults £14 / Children £8 / under 5s free / annual memberships available

Murillo: Master of the Golden Age Exhibition

Step into the splendour of Spain’s Golden Age through the work of Bartolomé Esteban Murillo - one of the most celebrated and enduring artists of his time.

Venue:
The Spanish Gallery, Market Place, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL14 7JF
Date:
Jul 29th 2025 - Dec 31st 2025
Opening Times:
29th Jul - 31st Dec 2025 00:00
Price:
Free with Auckland Palace admission

Spirit of the North East: The art of Richard Hobson, a retrospective

In this exhibition, discover how Richard Hobson (1945–2004) captured the changing landscapes, industry and communities of the North East. From bustling shipyards to rugged moorlands and beyond, explore how Richard captured an industrial landscape and a way of life which was on the cusp of change.

Venue:
South Shields Museum & Art Gallery, Ocean Road, South Shields, NE33 2JA
Date:
Apr 12th 2025 - Nov 2nd 2025
Opening Times:
Mon-Fri 10:00 - 17:00 , Sat 11:00 - 16:00
Price:
Free

The Painted Coast: Tyneside

Showcasing the oil paintings of landscape artist Stuart Jones. Working outdoors on location with his easel is what drives Stuart’s work. In his 'plein air' paintings, his aim is to convey a sense of the light, mood and atmosphere at the coast as well as the activity taking place in his 'busy beach scenes'.

Venue:
Spanish City, Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear, NE26 1BG
Date:
Apr 8th 2025 - Sep 28th 2025
Opening Times:
8th Apr - 28th Sep 2025 TBC
Price:
Free

With These Hands

This exhibition explores the representation of craft in paintings, drawings, and prints. The process of making and mending by hand whether a domestic pastime, rural and semi-industrial labour, or essential war effort, is a persistent theme to which artists return. Yet these artworks are rarely straightforward observations of everyday activity. Instead, the act of making is used to symbolise personal and communal identity, leisure and work, tradition and progress.

Venue:
Laing Art Gallery, New Bridge Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8AG
Date:
May 17th 2025 - Sep 27th 2025
Opening Times:
Mon-Sat 10:00 - 16:30
Price:
£8/£7

Three Artists: Zac Weinberg, Joanna Manousis, and Anthony Amoako-Attah

Zac Weinberg, Joanna Manousis, and Anthony Amoako-Attah are artists based at National Glass Centre where they create their internationally acknowledged work. This exhibition offers a chance to see three individual shows in one building, including Zac’s ingenious constructions, Joanna’s work bringing together mirrored and cast glass, and Anthony’s practice inspired by traditional Ghanaian textile design.

Venue:
National Glass Centre, Liberty Way, Sunderland, SR6 0GL
Date:
Jun 28th 2025 - Jan 10th 2026
Opening Times:
Daily 10:00 - 17:00
Price:
Free

Beasts and Legends: Adventures Through North East Folklore

Beasts and Legends explores the development of storytelling throughout Historic County Durham. This family friendly exhibition features a selection of artefacts from across the Durham University collections to help tell the stories of local folktales. For those both familiar or new to the stories of the beasts and legends on display, the exhibition poses the opportunity for visitors, especially younger people, to connect with folktales through the displays. The exhibition also features objects on loan from Durham Cathedral, in addition to artworks created by collaborative work with local artist Ruth Flowers.

Venue:
Palace Green Library, Palace Green, Durham, DH1 3RN
Date:
Jun 14th 2025 - Nov 2nd 2025
Opening Times:
Daily 10:00 - 17:00
Price:
Free

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A Striking Sight: The pioneering 1875 excavations of South Shields Roman Fort

2025 marks the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the excavations in 1875 at the 'Roman camp' now, Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort. This exhibition will look at the progress of the first few years of excavations from 1875 – 1881 when the Roman Remains Park was then established. The displays will include what was found, the people involved in the work as well as photographs taken at the time.

Venue:
Arbeia Roman Fort and Museum, Baring Street, South Shields, NE33 2BB
Date:
May 11th 2025 - Sep 28th 2025
Opening Times:
Mon-Fri 10:00 - 17:00 , Sun 13:00 - 16:00 , Sat 11:00 - 16:00
Price:
Free

VE Day 80: The Final Push

This display tells the story of both antecedent regiments of the Light Dragoons and the part they played in North West Germany during the final six weeks of the Second World War, which in turn led to Victory in Europe Day, 8 May 1945. The Final Push features the role played by the 15th/19th Hussars who, as part of the 11th Armoured Division, came across and liberated the internment camp at Bergen – Belsen on 15 April 1945.

Venue:
Discovery Museum, (Closed on all Bank Holidays) Blandford Square, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4JA
Date:
May 11th 2025 - Nov 2nd 2025
Opening Times:
Sat-Sun 11:00 - 16:00 , Mon-Fri 10:00 - 16:00
Price:
Free

An exhibition of work by Charlie Rogers

United by seven iconic bridges across a bustling quayside, Newcastle and Gateshead has been a source of inspiration for many local artists including Charlie Rogers. Charlie was a self-taught artist who lived close to Gateshead Central Library, exhibiting in the gallery many times during the 60 years that he painted. He had a unique style and character in his work which captured his love of the streets and back lanes of Tyneside and the areas near the library including the Shipley Art Gallery and Saltwell Park. This exhibition will showcase a selection of paintings, watercolours and sketches, including some artworks that have recently been discovered.

Venue:
Gateshead Central Library, Prince Consort Road, Gateshead, NE8 4LN
Date:
Jul 12th 2025 - Sep 27th 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

Brian Eyler Exhibition

Brian Eyler is a professional landscape photographer originally from San Diego, now living in Newcastle. After moving in 2019 to join his wife, Brian shifted gears when the COVID-19 pandemic paused his video production business. Instead of stepping back, he returned to photography - his passion for over a decade. During this time, he drew inspiration from classical oil painters like Albert Bierstadt and Thomas Kinkade, whose romantic use of light and atmosphere influenced his evolving style. Brian’s work blends the realism of photography with the emotive qualities of fine art, often using panoramic formats to convey immersive, expansive scenes.

Venue:
Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Beaumont Street, Hexham, NE46 3LS
Date:
May 23rd 2025 - Jan 5th 2027
Opening Times:
Mon-Sat 10:00 - 16:00
Price:
Free

Jill McKnight: Past and Future Pact

A new body of work by artist Jill McKnight comprising sculpture, works on paper and video inspired by Sunderland’s industrial heritage. The artworks were produced using art and design facilities at University of Sunderland while artist-in-residence for AA2A and DePOT (Deindustrialization and the Politics of Our Time) between 2023-24. The resulting body of work explores the identity of Sunderland 30 years on from mass closures across many heavy industries.

Venue:
Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, c/o National Glass Centre, Liberty Way, Sunderland, SR6 0GL
Date:
Jul 26th 2025 - Dec 9th 2025
Opening Times:
Daily 10:00 - 17:00
Price:
Free

Imitating Life

An exhibition featuring models from 19th Century glassmakers Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka. Imitating Life is an exhibition featuring the museum’s collection of glass marine invertebrate models from the renowned Blaschka family. The exhibition also includes invertebrate spirit specimens, fungi models, and an excerpt from the short film Fragile Legacy, directed by David O. Brown.

Venue:
Great North Museum: Hancock, Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4PT
Date:
Jun 1st 2025 - Sep 28th 2025
Opening Times:
Mon-Fri 10:00 - 17:00 , Sun 11:00 - 16:00 , Sat 10:00 - 16:00
Price:
Free

Nathan Coley: You Create What You Will & Tate Modern on Fire

For the first time together, The Bowes Museum hosts Nathan Coley’s works, You Create What You Will (2014) and Tate Modern on Fire (2017.) Known for his thought-provoking public works, Coley explores how belief systems shape our cities, institutions and identities. Gaze up to the 5 and half metre illuminated text installation and wander around a mini burning version Tate Modern. Learn about the references behind the artworks, think about the roles of museums in society and reflect on your relationship with art.

Venue:
The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, County Durham, DL12 8NP
Date:
Jun 13th 2025 - Feb 1st 2026
Opening Times:
Daily 10:00 - 17:00
Price:
£19.50/under 18s Free

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Claire A Baker: In Progress and Process

North East award winning artist, maker and researcher, Claire A Baker has been commissioned to create a trio of flags titled In Progress and Process, in response to The Bowes Museum’s collection. Weaving together the past and present and exploring unfinished narratives these flags highlight the dynamic relationship between historic crafted artworks and contemporary practice. The series of flags, Process I, Process II, and Process III, show a visual journey of making and remaking, whilst a stitched tapestry design In Progress, inverts the traditional two-dimensional format of flags, transforming it into an interactive, tactile experience.

Venue:
The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, County Durham, DL12 8NP
Date:
May 31st 2025 - Jan 18th 2026
Opening Times:
Daily 10:00 - 17:00
Price:
£19.50/under 18s Free

90 Years Going Further Together

A display celebrating 90 years of Newcastle International Airport from its inception, its role in the Second World War to its place in the North East region today. Featuring images from the Airport’s archive offering a glimpse into the Airport’s past and significance in the modern world.

Venue:
Discovery Museum, (Closed on all Bank Holidays) Blandford Square, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4JA
Date:
Jul 25th 2025 - Jan 11th 2026
Opening Times:
Sat-Sun 11:00 - 16:00 , Mon-Fri 10:00 - 16:00
Price:
Free

اپنی آواز Our Voice

A powerful exhibition of stories using film, photographs and words to celebrate the lives of first-generation South Asian women who have made Tyneside their home. Produced by New Writing North in partnership with Search Newcastle, اپنی آواز Our Voice Apni Aawaaz is a storytelling project made in collaboration with a group of women who live in Newcastle’s West End.

Venue:
Discovery Museum, (Closed on all Bank Holidays) Blandford Square, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4JA
Date:
Jul 28th 2025 - Nov 10th 2025
Opening Times:
Sat-Sun 11:00 - 16:00 , Mon-Fri 10:00 - 16:00
Price:
Free

The Art of Conservation

This exhibition offers a glimpse into the process of art conservation and shows visitors, how the experts at North East Museums, preserve and restore artworks to ensure their longevity and integrity. The Art of Conservation celebrates many artworks, some of which have never been on display, and shines a light on the vital work of conservation. This exhibition is a unique opportunity for the public to step behind the scenes and discover how art is preserved and protected.

Venue:
South Shields Museum & Art Gallery, Ocean Road, South Shields, NE33 2JA
Date:
Jul 19th 2025 - Dec 6th 2025
Opening Times:
Mon-Fri 10:00 - 17:00 , Sat 11:00 - 16:00
Price:
Free

British Wildlife Photography Awards

A revered showcase of nature photography in Britain and a crucial reminder of what value our woodlands, wetlands and other ecosystems still hold with award-winning photographs from different categories including animal behaviour, animal portraits, botanic Britain, black and white, British seasons, coast and marine, habitat, hidden Britain, urban wildlife and wild woods.

Venue:
Bishop Auckland Town Hall, Market Place, Bishop Auckland, DL14 7NP
Date:
Sep 13th 2025 - Nov 29th 2025
Opening Times:
Mon-Sat 10:00 - 16:00
Price:
Free

Peter Roman: My Testosterone Journey

The fourth in a series of short film presentations submitted by students from Fine Art at University of Sunderland. Roman’s practice draws on extensive research on the history and culture surrounding LGBTQIA+ communities combining his personal experiences to create visual narratives that challenge societal norms. This video work documents Roman’s testosterone journey between May 2022 and May 2025 as part of his transition.

Venue:
Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, c/o National Glass Centre, Liberty Way, Sunderland, SR6 0GL
Date:
Aug 18th 2025 - Oct 4th 2025
Opening Times:
Daily 10:00 - 17:00
Price:
Free

Going Back Brockens: Monuments and Rhetoric After the Miners' Strike

A major exhibition from award-winning artist Narbi Price and acclaimed writer Mark Hudson, sharing stories of hope and aspiration in mining communities 40 years after the Miners’ Strike. The show features 43 new paintings by Narbi depicting locations across County Durham connected to the mining industry as they are now, alongside a sound installation created by Mark using interviews recorded with the people of Horden between 1991 – 92, several years after the Miners’ Strike.

Venue:
Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens, Mowbray Gardens, Burdon Road, Sunderland, SR1 1PP
Date:
Sep 12th 2025 - Jan 3rd 2026
Opening Times:
Sat 10:00 - 16:00 , Mon-Fri 09:30 - 17:00
Price:
Free

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The Northern Festival of Illustration

This celebration of visual storytelling returns in 2025 with the powerful theme ‘Stories of Home’. Rooted in the belief that illustration is a universal language, the 2025 festival highlights the illustration’s unique power to capture emotion, communicate identity, and preserve culture. Whether through picture books, comics, animation, or digital media, this year’s programme explores how we use illustration to tell the stories that matter most—those that define where we come from, and what we call home. At the heart of the festival is the flagship ‘Stories of Home’ exhibition at Hartlepool Art Gallery, a curated showcase of works from international illustrators working across a variety of mediums. Running for the full duration of the festival, the exhibition will be accompanied by a dynamic series of family-friendly workshops, author/illustrator events, and community activities.

Venue:
Various Venues in Hartlepool,
Date:
Sep 12th 2025 - Nov 1st 2025
Opening Times:
12th Sep - 1st Nov 2025 TBC
Price:
Free

George Horton: Artworks from the Collection

George Horton, a self-taught artist from South Shields, became one of the most renowned painters of the North East in the early 1900s, celebrated for his watercolours of coastal scenes. Despite a challenging upbringing and no formal training, his talent earned him spots in prestigious exhibitions, including the Royal Academy and the Paris Salon. This exhibition offers a chance to rediscover Horton’s legacy and celebrate the passion and perseverance of George Horton.

Venue:
South Shields Museum & Art Gallery, Ocean Road, South Shields, NE33 2JA
Date:
Aug 16th 2025 - Nov 1st 2025
Opening Times:
Mon-Fri 10:00 - 17:00 , Sat 11:00 - 16:00
Price:
Free

Make & Mend

Visit a pop up studio in the library at Belsay Hall, with creatives from the Northumbria University Schools of Design and Architecture. See the development of creative projects across a range of media including textiles, furniture, photography and architectural studies. All works draw inspiration from the Hall, exploring making traditions linked to the site, while showcasing contemporary techniques and approaches.

Venue:
Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens, Belsay, Nr Morpeth, Northumberland, NE20 0DX
Date:
Sep 15th 2025 - Nov 2nd 2025
Opening Times:
Daily 10:00 - 17:00 , Sat-Sun 10:00 - 16:00
Price:
From £13

Photographic Exhibition

An documentary photographic exhibition of photographs of Easington Colliery. Taken between 1987-1991 by Michele Allan for a documentary project whilst still a student and archived away until recently. They document life as it was in the colliery at that time, a few years before the pit was closed.

Venue:
Easington Social Welfare Centre, Seaside Lane, Easington Colliery, Peterlee, SR8 3PL
Date:
Sep 8th 2025 - Oct 3rd 2025
Opening Times:
8th Sep - 3rd Oct 2025 TBC
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

STEAM to the Future

This family friendly exhibition, following Railway Pioneers: Celebrating the Railway Rockstars of the Past, is transporting us into the present and beyond. STEAM to the Future takes a playful look at the near and BlueSky thinking using commissioned art pieces showcasing the design and science behind the rail industry.

Venue:
Hopetown, McNay Street, Darlington, DL3 6SW
Date:
Jul 11th 2025 - Oct 5th 2025
Opening Times:
Sun and Tue-Sat 10:00 - 17:00
Price:
Free

'In Motion – Middlesbrough Collection'

Artists are inventive and curious. They ask big questions and spark bold ideas – whether by exploring new ways to create, experimenting with materials or imagining possible futures. In Motion is a display of artwork from the Middlesbrough Collection held at MIMA. The Collection holds 2,350 works of art and craft made by artists based in the Tees Valley and internationally from the mid-1800s to today.

Venue:
Mima, Centre Square, Middlesbrough, TS1 2AZ
Date:
Apr 11th 2025 - Mar 22nd 2026
Opening Times:
Sun 12:00 - 16:00 , Tue-Sat 10:00 - 16:30
Price:
Free

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Guiding Entities: Zoë Zo, Zoë Tumika & Zoë Guthrie

Guiding Entities is a solo exhibition by Glasgow-based artist Zoë Tumika, who works under the names Zoë Zo, Zoë Tumika & Zoë Guthrie. Spanning ceramics, film and sound, Tumika’s work draws on Black radical traditions of resistance and creativity. The exhibition takes the River Tees and River Clyde as starting points to reflect on extraction, resistance and the possibility of repair. They describe their practice as “a way of processing collision and untethering” — grappling with being and belonging across temporal, material, and spiritual dimensions. Their work negotiates the charged terrain of museums as sites of cultural construction and colonial legacy.

Venue:
Mima, Centre Square, Middlesbrough, TS1 2AZ
Date:
May 17th 2025 - Nov 23rd 2025
Opening Times:
Sun 12:00 - 16:00 , Tue-Sat 10:00 - 16:30
Price:
Free

Binding the Bard

The pleasure of owning, holding and reading a well-made book is a feeling as familiar today as it was hundreds of years ago. The historic craft of bookbinding is an important feature of many of the rare books held at Palace Green Library and this exhibition celebrates the continuation of the artform by showcasing the skills of modern-day designer bookbinders around the world.

Venue:
Palace Green Library, Palace Green, Durham, DH1 3RN
Date:
Apr 4th 2025 - Nov 2nd 2025
Opening Times:
Sun, Sun, Sun, Tue-Fri 10:00 - 17:00 , Sat-Sun 11:00 - 16:00
Price:
Free

Fried, Frozen & Wrapped

This major summer exhibition that celebrates the national obsession with the takeaway and eating out. Bringing together invited artists and works submitted through our open call, “Fried, Frozen and Wrapped” features nearly 100 works in this Open Call exhibition, across the mediums of drawing, painting, photography, film, sculpture and installation.

Venue:
The Redcar Palace, Palace 28, 28-29 Esplanade, Redcar, TS10 3AE
Date:
Jul 18th 2025 - Oct 18th 2025
Opening Times:
Tue-Sat 10:00 - 16:00
Price:
Free

Telling Tales: Making Stories Come to Life

Visitors of all ages are invited to explore the many ways in which stories can be told. A diverse and exciting collection of storytelling artefacts, including shadow puppets, theatre costumes, folk instruments, anime cels, movie posters, and more from various cultures and time periods showcase the universality of telling tales. As you learn the different methods there are to tell stories, experience the exhibition in your own way, through written guides, audio recordings, digital screen or museum-wide trail designed specifically for young learners.

Venue:
Oriental Museum, Elvet Hill, (off South Road), Durham, DH1 3TH
Date:
Jun 13th 2025 - Nov 9th 2025
Opening Times:
Sat-Sun 12:00 - 17:00 , Tue-Wed and Fri 10:00 - 17:00 , Thu 10:00 - 19:00
Price:
Free

Enchanted Objects: Adornment and Personal Protection from Amulets to the Mobile Phone

Contemporary artist Dinah Kelly shines a light on the protective powers and symbolism of charms, talismans and amulets. She has drawn inspiration from our past and present connections with amulets to create a series of intricate and striking talismanic shirts and protective jewellery. Woven through the Silk Roads gallery these works are displayed alongside historic objects from the collection. The installation will also include some of Dinah’s sketchbooks and preliminary drawings, providing an insight into her artistic practice, and a talismanic shirt produced in collaboration with Creative Age, a weekly art group supporting people living with dementia and their carers.

Venue:
Oriental Museum, Elvet Hill, (off South Road), Durham, DH1 3TH
Date:
Jun 13th 2025 - Nov 9th 2025
Opening Times:
Sat-Sun 12:00 - 17:00 , Tue-Wed and Fri 10:00 - 17:00 , Thu 10:00 - 19:00
Price:
Free

WITCH

The myth: trial by water and the drowning of the Washington Witch in 1696. The result: the Sunderland Indie swing into action with all things witchy in 2025. “A truly exciting exhibition, an array of artworks interpreting the notion of ‘witch’ in many thought provoking ways”. Consider black magic, white magic, social injustice and murder. Consider the magic of art, including paintings, sculpture, photography and the wild imaginings of your local artists. Cross your fingers before you enter.

Venue:
Arts Centre Washington, Biddick Lane, Fatfield, Washington, NE38 8AB
Date:
Sep 12th 2025 - Nov 1st 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

Change Grow Live - Wear Recovery

Wear Recovery engages people who are reducing their alcohol or substance use, and those who are in recovery. This exhibition is an expressive representation of those living in Sunderland in recovery, showcasing their talents and hard work. The exhibition has been created as an amateur piece of work, showing that art can be achieved by all, from various communities. Those who have contributed have shown off their love of art and creativeness via a range of expressive pieces. Media includes canvas paintings, drawings, diamond art, clay pieces to name a few.

Venue:
Arts Centre Washington, Biddick Lane, Fatfield, Washington, NE38 8AB
Date:
Sep 4th 2025 - Sep 27th 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

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Printed Response

A group exhibition featuring Annie O’Donnell, Tony Charles, Emma Bennett, Nick Kennedy, Rachael Clewlow, and Francesca Simon. Each artist has been commissioned to create a printed work in response to a work from Durham University’s Art Collection. Exhibited alongside the Durham works; these new printed responses highlight the consistency and value of printmaking as a medium throughout art history. Exploring the necessity of printmaking as a means of artistic expression, and an opportunity for exploration of technique, Printed Response brings together an expansive collection of artwork to call into consideration the role of printmaking within contemporary fine art.

Venue:
Platform A Gallery, Middlesbrough Railway Station, Zetland Road, Middlesbrough, TS1 1EG
Date:
Aug 21st 2025 - Sep 18th 2025
Opening Times:
Tue-Fri 10:00 - 16:00
Price:
Free

North Shields - 800 Years in the Making

This exhibition takes visitors on a journey from the town’s humble beginnings with a small settlement of shiels – fishermen’s huts – at the mouth of the Pow Burn where the fish quay is today, through wars and conflict, innovation and prosperity, through to growth and development. Although its main focus is eight centuries of the town’s history, it starts with an explanation of how archaeological evidence suggests a prehistoric settlement near Northumberland Park dating back almost 6,000 years and how the earliest legends speak of battles between gods and giants.

Venue:
The Old Low Light, Clifford's Fort, North Shields, Tyne & Wear, NE30 1JA
Date:
Jul 22nd 2025 - Jan 31st 2026
Opening Times:
Tue-Sat 10:00 - 15:00
Price:
£5

On Fragments Of Yearning, I Linger

This contemporary art exhibition invites visitors to explore museum collections through a renewed Queer lens. Artist collaborators Bex Harvey and Sarah Li (Unlearn & Publish) have worked with members of the Durham community to creatively respond to objects from the Museum of Archaeology, Durham Castle, Natural Science Collection and the Oriental Museum. Through poetry, textiles, printmaking, and personal storytelling, the exhibition reimagines archival fragments and asks: Where can we find queerness within our history?

Venue:
Palace Green Library, Palace Green, Durham, DH1 3RN
Date:
Sep 9th 2025 - Oct 16th 2025
Opening Times:
Sun, Sun, Sun, Tue-Fri 10:00 - 17:00 , Sat-Sun 11:00 - 16:00
Price:
Free

Corridors

A breath-taking new installation by internationally acclaimed artist Rebecca Louise Law. Suspended delicately from the ceiling, thousands of preserved flowers, many of which have been grown in the museum's own Walled Garden, come together in an immersive display. The installation takes inspiration from the fact that the original Stockton and Darlington Railway line ran through Preston Park.

Venue:
Preston Park Museum, Yarm Road, Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 3RH
Date:
Sep 13th 2025 - Jan 4th 2026
Opening Times:
Sun and Tue-Sat 10:00 - 16:00
Price:
Adult £12/child £8/under 3s Free