The North East is full of art and creativity, everywhere you look there are memories of the heritage of our shared past in industry, the incredible natural surroundings that shape us as well as the voices of the present day. Although sometimes it can feel frustrating that all of the big arts and cultural events seem to be happening elsewhere, in this blog series we want to outline some of the fantastic art and creative events, landmarks, galleries and such that the North East have to offer right NOW!
This week we are taking a look at some of the amazing local art galleries across the North East! Visiting art galleries is a great way to clear your mind and boost your creativity, as well as providing an insight into other people’s stories and worldviews. We’ve selected five local galleries, but as you may know, the North East has A LOT of art galleries to offer across the region, take a look at this list for more suggestions.
The Auckland Project: Mining Art Gallery, Bishop Auckland
The Mining Gallery holds a fantastic art collection that offers an insight into life in the coal mines and the community that formed around these spaces, creating an important record of a former way of life that is integral to our local identity.
The collection is an exploration into the art, culture and context of the mining industry and its place in the history of County Durham and includes more than 420 works by prominent local artists. The gallery is thoughtfully split over two floors, with the downstairs room portraying the harshness of life underground in the mines, whilst upstairs looks at the miner’s memories, communities, and families.
The Mining Art Gallery, in Market Place, Bishop Auckland, is open every day from 10am to 4pm (last entry 3.30pm). Admission costs £4 for adults, £3 concessions, and under 16s can visit for free. It’s worth taking a look at the Auckland Project to learn about any changes to opening times, as well as checking out the other galleries and buildings included in The Auckland Project site.
The Art Block, Seaham
The Art Block is the only dedicated art gallery in East Durham. The Art Block opened in 2012 when East Durham Artists’ Network took over the space (which once operated as a public toilet) and converted it into an art space.
The Art Block is run by the East Durham Artists’ Network (EDAN), a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the promotion of arts and culture in the East Durham area, drawing members from south of the Tyne and north of the Tees. As well as exhibitions, EDAN organises talks and lectures, group projects, interest groups, classes, and workshops.
The exhibition currently on display is ‘Mag Lime Magic’, a visual exploration of Durham’s coastal geology in collaboration with SeaScapes. Make sure to check out ‘Lexica’ (an exhibition within an exhibition) which presents mixed media art which utilises words and letters, prose and poetry in interesting ways. Mag Lime Magic runs until the 26th of March 2022, with ‘Lexica’ being available to view from the 9th of April.
Exhibitions housed in the Art Block cover a range of different subjects throughout the year, so it is work checking their Facebook page to learn more about upcoming exhibitions. Entrance is free, and normally open to visitors from Tuesday to Saturday from 11.00am till 3.00pm.
The Bob Abley Art Gallery, Spennymoor
The Bob Abley Art Gallery at Spennymoor Town Hall is growing into a very popular art gallery in the North East. Although we gave a shout out to the exhibition ‘Coming Home’ by Chris and Steve Rocks in our previous blog post, the whole gallery is well worth a visit!
The gallery spans across two floors, with a selection of art by over thirty regional and internationally renowned artists. The gallery is most likely best known for its collection of works by Norman Cornish, undoubtedly the most celebrated mining artist. Cornish’s pieces commonly depict miner’s working life, influenced by his time working in the mines in Spennymoor.
The gallery continues to update their collections with new exciting artists, so it is always worth stopping by and taking a look at what’s new. For more information, contact the gallery on: 01388 815276 or by email: info@spennymoor-tc.gov.uk
Hartlepool Art Gallery
Hartlepool Art Gallery is a welcome home for inspiration and creativity as it boasts exhibitions of international, national, and regional artists and a programme of events and learning throughout the year.
The gallery has two exhibition spaces available, The Main Gallery and The Apse Gallery. It has an extensive exhibition programme which always aims to be diverse and interesting, with the hopes it chimes with the town, inspiring future artists and showing the audience that there is something there for them.
Current exhibitions include The Female Gaze: Revisited by Alice Hawkins, which runs until Saturday the 23rd of April 2022. The collection by established art photographer Alice Hawkins presents an extraordinary panoramic portrait of women around the world, captured in the last 20 years. The exhibition examines the changing perceptions of femininity, fashion, and gender over the past two decades and includes fashion films as well as portraits of female musicians including Beth Ditto and Paloma Faith.
The gallery is open 10am to 5pm Tuesdays to Saturdays and entry is free for everyone!
National Glass Centre, Sunderland
The National Glass Centre is located in Sunderland, on the banks of the River Wear, on the former site of J.L. Thompson and Sons shipyard. It celebrates Sunderland’s history of glassmaking, which at one time was renowned throughout the country.
Current exhibitions include Re-Purpose in the Collections Gallery. Re-Purpose consists of works from the Glass Centre’s collection and loans from the Victoria & Albert Museum, North Lands Creative and individual artists, presenting works which have in different ways been re-purposed due to having been originally broken, used, discarded or previously regarded as a waste project.
The centre has free daily glassmaking demonstrations, allowing audiences to watch the expert glass making team craft stunning, unusual pieces too. See here for more details. Also, whilst at the Glass Centre be sure to check out the museum, which offers an overview of the history of glassmaking.
Take a look at the National Glass Centre website here, as they deliver a varied programme of changing exhibitions, education programmes and events for schools, families, adults and children.
The centre is free to visit, donations are welcome. The Glass Centre is open daily from 10am to 5pm.
And that’s it… five incredible galleries here in the North East! What’s your favourite gallery to visit? Let us know any galleries you have visited recently and we’ll be sure to share a recommendation on our social media. Get in touch via email: media@eastdurhamcreates.co.uk