Culture Digest 23.01.26
A round up of the arts and culture stories which caught our attention over the past week or so...
Keelmen’s Hospital set for new era after multi-million-pound heritage grant
A prominent heritage building which is pivotal to Tyneside’s industrial and social history is to be saved and restored by a £4.6m award.
The Grade II* listed Keelmen’s Hospital, which overlooks the Tyne in Newcastle, is one of the city’s most at-risk historic buildings and has lain empty for the last 16 years.
Dating from 1701, it was built as an almshouse to provide food, shelter and medical care for the poor, the sick and aged keelmen and their families.
Now it will be returned to its original role as homes to the design of Newcastle-based JDDK Architects. The conversion will result in 20 affordable units.
The £4.6m has been awarded to Tyne & Wear Building Preservation Trust (T&WBPT) by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The Newcastle Conservation Area Panel (NCAP) describes the building as an “outstanding and unique heritage asset” and praises the objective to provide “social housing which reflects the origins of the building and gives future residents the opportunity to experience its real sense of historic place.”
North Shields sets sights on UK Town of Culture title
North Shields, fresh on the heels of its 800th anniversary year, is throwing its hat into the ring to be the first UK Town of Culture in 2028.
In the North East, it joins Bishop Auckland in expressing an interest in the new competition which the Government announced in October, encouraged by the success of UK City of Culture, a title which has richly benefited holders – most recently Bradford.
Towns intending to bid have to submit a formal Expression of Interest by March 31.
Shortlisted towns will each receive £60,000 to draw up a full bid and the winner will then get £3.5 million towards delivering a cultural programme during the summer of 2028.
Applicants will have to explain how the town’s story is unique, how its programme will appeal to everyone and how it will then be delivered.
TV premiere confirmed for Doppelgänger
A transmission date has been confirmed for North East–made short film, Doppelgänger.
Commissioned as part of the BBC’s Long Story Short series, the 15-minute film was written by award-winning Newcastle playwright Alison Carr, marking her first move into screenwriting, produced by Gateshead company Candle and Bell and supported by North East Screen.
Filmed in Heaton and Pelaw, it explores the unsettling consequences of a chance meeting between two identical 10-year-old girls, both named Josie.
The film will be shown on BBC Three on February 1 at 9pm and will then be available on iPlayer. You can read lots more about it here.
North East creative community mourns Andrew Walker
Tributes have been paid following the death of Andrew Walker, a much-loved member of staff at The Customs House, where he played a central role in its youth, engagement and artistic work.
Andrew joined the organisation at the age of 16 through its Youth Theatre. He later worked front of house while studying, before returning as a facilitator for the senior Youth Theatre and, in 2022, taking on the role of creative engagement producer.
Announcing his passing, The Customs House said Andrew “brought his trademark humour and infectious enthusiasm to everything he did” and that his “warm and lovely nature made him a joy to work with, and his charismatic personality made him a friend for life.”
Alongside his work behind the scenes, Andrew fulfilled his ambition to become a professional actor, appearing in productions at The Customs House including The Fifteen Streets, My Uncle Freddie, Wormtown and A Class Feeling. His wider theatre work took him across the country with productions such as Drip, You Stupid Darkness and Broken Biscuits, as well as advertising campaigns and a BBC Radio 4 play.
Andrew was also a developing writer, part of the Life in a Northern Town cohort with Northern Broadsides and Blackpool Grand Theatre, and the writer of Cherryade Supernova for The Customs House Takeover 2021.
Hamnet author to celebrate new novel in Newcastle
Award-winning novelist Maggie O’Farrell will visit Newcastle this summer as part of New Writing North’s Right to Read programme.
The author of Hamnet - the film adaptation of which has just secured eight nominations ahead of the upcoming Academy Awards - will appear at Northern Stage, Newcastle on June 9 to discuss her new (and much anticipated) multi-generational novel Land.
The event includes a discussion, audience Q&A and exclusive stamped author copies.
Tickets available here.
Generator launches Japan partnership to put northern music on the world stage
Music development agency, Generator is taking a significant step onto the international stage with a new partnership linking the region’s music scene with Japan.
Backed by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen, the announcement of the collaboration follows more than a year of relationship-building with Japanese industry leaders, positioning northern artists and producers at the heart of one of the world’s most influential music markets.
Japan is the second-largest recorded music market globally, yet access to routes like this has traditionally been dominated by London-based activity.
The partnership underpins the development of the UK’s first Northern Music Export Office, backed by combined authorities including the North East and Tees Valley, and aims to create long-term international pathways rather than one-off showcase opportunities.
Generator CEO Mick Ross said the move was about ensuring talent from the North is “seen, heard and taken seriously” worldwide, adding that the relationships built in Japan show strong appetite for northern creativity.
The first major activity will take place in February 2026, when Generator leads a Northern Music Exchange mission to Japan. Two artists have been selected by Japanese partners to take part: Tees Valley-based queer-pop artist Loren Heat and North Tyneside producer and songwriter Chad Rodgers.
The programme will include songwriting camps, industry showcases and contributions to international music forums in Fukuoka and Tokyo, marking the start of a planned three-year cultural and industry exchange.
New arts initiative connects campus and community
An arts centre “without walls” will showcase creativity across a university’s activities and research.
On Friday (January 23), Northumbria University’s School of Design, Arts and Creative Industries launched Programme Northumbria, which will connect different locations across the Newcastle campus and beyond through a varied programme of public exhibitions and events.
Running until August 31, the inaugural programme will feature work from leading academics and past students, demonstrating how creative practice is pushing boundaries across disciplines from contemporary art and design to performance and digital innovation.
North East talent among northern screen leaders chosen for new scheme
Three North East screen industry leaders are among 17 participants selected for a new leadership development programme from Screen Alliance North.
Libby Walker of Nana Peg Productions (South Shields), Paula Hughes of North Star Films (Hartlepool) and Carley Armstrong of True Moon/Mack’em Productions will take part in Into the Lead, a scheme aimed at senior figures working in independent scripted production. The programme brings together leaders from across the North of England to explore leadership, workplace culture and the impact of new technologies on the screen sector.
Launched at an event in Leeds, the course runs from January to April and is supported by the BFI through National Lottery funding.
New projects bring nature into heart of Wearside communities
Two new projects will bring communities and nature together on Wearside.
The City of Nature Sunderland community programme aims to benefit more than 3,500 people after landing a £326,543 award.
The backing from the National Lottery Community Fund will see the programme being led by Durham Wildlife Trust and the International Community Organisation of Sunderland (ICOS).
A roving “nature hub” will travel around disadvantaged areas of Wearside to stage nature events and activities.