Culture Digest 24.04.26
A round up of the arts and culture stories which caught our attention over the past week or so...
Turner Prize shortlist gets MIMA’s year off to flying start
The Turner Prize shortlist has been announced and it’s of more than usual interest to culturally aspirant Middlesbrough whose MIMA art gallery hosts this year’s competition.
An exhibition of work by the four artists will open there in September (the winner to be announced on December 10) running into 2027 when Mima will celebrate its 20th anniversary.
It’s a timely artistic fillip for Middlesbrough, recently longlisted for UK City of Culture 2029 (challenging the ‘city’ part of the competition title, just as County Durham did when entering previously).
This year’s Turner Prize contenders are Simeon Barclay, Kira Freije, Marguerite Humeau and Tanoa Sasraku – and if the names aren’t familiar to you now, they are likely to become more so as the year progresses.
As well as the money, with the prize worth £25,000 to the winner and £10,000 each to the runners-up, the competition, run by Tate Britain in collaboration with other host galleries, traditionally brings a hike in public profile.
Mercury Prize shortlist date confirmed ahead of return to Newcastle
The shortlist for the 2026 Mercury Prize will be revealed on July 30, ahead of the awards ceremony returning to Newcastle this autumn.
The prestigious ‘12 Albums of the Year’ prize will culminate in a live show at the Utilita Arena on October 22, marking the second consecutive year the event has been hosted in the city.
Recognising the best new British and Irish music, the Mercury Prize shortlist is selected by an independent panel of industry experts and celebrates artistic achievement across a wide range of contemporary genres. The award is widely regarded as one of the most significant in the UK music calendar.
In 2025, North Shields’ Sam Fender won the Prize with album People Watching.
Newcastle art and craft fair set for summer return
A major contemporary craft and art fair is set to return to Newcastle this summer, bringing more than 100 independent makers and artists to the city.
Following a successful debut, The Great Northern Contemporary Craft & Art Fair Newcastle (GNCCF) will once again take over Northumbria University’s Sport Central in June, offering a four-day programme celebrating high-quality design, craftsmanship and creativity.
Running from June 18-21, the event will open with a preview evening before a full weekend of exhibitions, demonstrations and opportunities to meet artists working across disciplines including fine art, sculpture, textiles, jewellery, ceramics and furniture.
Wall of Fame welcomes Kenickie to Sunderland’s musical story
A new artwork celebrating Sunderland indie band Kenickie has been unveiled in the city centre, marking the latest addition to the city’s growing Music Wall of Fame.
The piece was revealed outside The Fire Station, forming part of an ongoing initiative to honour some of the city’s most influential musical voices while inspiring future generations of artists.
Commissioned by Sunderland Music City in partnership with The Fire Station, the artwork has been created by Sunderland-based illustrator Kathryn Robertson, who works under the name ‘KR Illustrates’.
Formed in the mid-1990s, Kenickie rose to prominence during the Britpop era, gaining national recognition for their distinctive blend of punk energy, indie pop sensibility and outspoken attitude.
The band – made up of Lauren Laverne, Marie du Santiago (Marie Nixon), Johnny X (Pete Gofton) and Emmy-Kate Montrose (Emma Jackson) – released acclaimed albums At the Club (1997) and Get In (1998), helping cement their place in the UK’s alternative music landscape.
BBC Proms back in the region with tickets now on sale
The BBC Proms season is embracing the North East once again with a fourth residency at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music in Gateshead and concerts in Sunderland and Middlesbrough.
The Gateshead weekend, scheduled for July 23-25, will feature a collaboration between Nadine Shah and Royal Northern Sinfonia (July 24).
“This summer,” said the South Tyneside-born singer-songwriter, “I’ll be making my proms debut with Royal Northern Sinfonia.
“The performance will take place in the North East at our finest establishment, The Glasshouse in Gateshead. It’s high art, it’s fancy, call me ‘Nadine Shah lah-de-dah’. It’s about time, on the Tyne.”
This concert will take place on the concourse at The Glasshouse – not, as you might have expected, in the big Sage One hall because that, we are told, is to be undergoing “a transformational summer refresh”.
Landmark art collection draws strong bidding
Part of a collection amassed by a North East scientist has sold for £406,000 with fees at a Newcastle auction.
Prof Brian Whitton, a Durham University lecturer in botany who spent his entire academic career at the institution, became a leading expert on English abstract painter John Tunnard.
Whitton died last year aged 90, with the first phase of his collection sold on April 23 by Anderson & Garland. A second sale is set to follow on June 25.
The auction came after a London Mayfair gallery presentation earlier this month, alongside a programme of public events in Newcastle celebrating Tunnard’s work.
Buyers were split almost evenly between private collectors and galleries.
Fred Wyrley-Birch, auctioneer and director at Anderson & Garland said: “The response to this collection has been exceptional at every stage, from the London preview through to the final hammer.
“It is clear that Tunnard’s work is finding an increasingly informed audience, and we are delighted to have played a part in bringing this important collection to market.”
Still time to apply for Weekend School places at The Glasshouse
Young people across the North East have just days left to apply for the 2026/27 Weekend School at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music.
The term-time programme, open to ages 4-18, runs on Saturdays and Sundays and offers classes, ensembles and courses for all abilities – from beginners to more advanced musicians. This year, the scheme has been expanded to include more places and new routes into music, with many options not requiring an audition.
A new strand, Elevate (ages 14–18), focuses on songwriting, music production and creating original work. New groups including Initiate and Syncopate will explore popular, jazz and rhythm-based styles, alongside a continued emphasis on playing together through bands, choirs and ensembles.
Susanna Mogaji, director of creative learning, said: “What makes Weekend School special is the sense of community around it. Young people come in at different stages and quickly find their place, whether that’s playing in a group, singing with others or creating their own music.
“We’ve expanded the programme this year, creating more ways for young people to get involved.”
Bursaries are available and pplications close on April 28. All the info you need is here.
Vintage Metro tickets found on ebay
Rare Metro tickets bought the night before the network had opened to the public have been discovered on eBay.
The nine tickets were issued on Sunday August 10 1980 - the eve of Metro’s first day of service and are now considered to be part of the region’s railway heritage.
Metro operator Nexus said that not many will have survived. They were bought by local public transport enthusiast Ian Chapman, who collects Metro memorabilia, with his collection including over 40,000 used Metro tickets.
Ian discovered the survivors in a large batch of tickets that he bought on eBay for £22 from sellers in the Isle of Wight and Hertfordshire.
He said: “It’s not often that you see Metro tickets that were sold before the network was opened. I’m thrilled to have found some.