Cultured. North East

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Culture Digest 18.09.26
Our weekly arts and culture news round up featuring the stories which caught our attention
 • Sam Wonfor
New international film festival planned for Gateshead
North East filmmakers will be able to submit work for free to a new three-day festival getting its premiere next summer
Review: Othello at Northern Stage
Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy arrives at Northern Stage this week, a co-production with HOME Manchester and Citizens Theatre. Michael Telfer went along…
 • Michael Telfer
Sunderland’s year-long soundtrack prepares for its final notes
The last hours of SonOrbitUs will see locals invited to play alongside the city’s year-long musical portrait
Matty Healy portrait puts North East photographer in the frame
A brief sitting with The 1975 singer during Sunday for Sammy rehearsals has produced a nationally shortlisted portrait for Neil Ferry
Royal Northern Sinfonia prepares to return to The Glasshouse stage after £4m revamp
Mozart will provide the first showcase for Sage One following months of work behind the scenes
Young artists invited to reinvent the future
Paint, sculpt, stitch – but no AI – in a new competition inspired by Turner Prize 2026
 • Sam Wonfor
Get inside North Shields’ creative spaces
Artists, makers and cultural organisations are joining forces for Open Quay - a new free weekend event across the town
How the 2026 Mercury Prize Fringe can cut through the noise
The Mercury Prize awards show returns to Newcastle next month but what are the Fringe benefits for the host city? Simon Rushworth discovers a world of…
 • Simon Rushworth
A grate day out for cheese lovers
Jesmond cheesemonger Moz Murphy is bringing some of her favourite makers together for a new festival
Faces that launched a million journeys
Bob Olley’s much-loved Monument Metro mural celebrates 30 years of keeping an eye on Newcastle passengers
 • Tony Henderson
Elephant Kind go wherever the music takes them
The Indonesian alt trio left Jakarta for London to pursue their international ambitions. Four years later, their journey brings them to the North East…
 • Sam Wonfor
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