Culture Digest 27.06.25
A round up of some arts and culture stories from across the North East which caught our attention this week
Beamish wins UK’s top museum prize
Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, has been crowned Art Fund Museum of the Year 2025, taking home the prestigious £120,000 prize – the largest museum award in the world.
The announcement was made at a ceremony held at the Museum of Liverpool on Thursday, 26 June, where comedian and award judge Phil Wang presented the accolade to Beamish chief executive, Rhiannon Hiles.
“We are incredibly excited and truly elated to be named Art Fund Museum of the Year 2025,” she said “To receive such a prestigious award is a real honour, a phenomenal achievement, and is credit to the amazing people who make Beamish such a special place.
Winners of Northern Writers’ Awards 2025 revealed
Twenty five successful applicants to this year’s Northern Writers’ Awards, which attracted some 3,000 entries, have been named and app…
North Shields goes large with street art
A series of large-scale murals will bring blank walls to life in a Tyneside town this summer.
The artworks, described as “significantly sized,” will celebrate the character and colourful history of North Shields, as it celebrates its 800th anniversary.
The event is being led by Elevation, a local arts charity founded by residents and powered by volunteers.
Eight murals will be sited along the Fish Quay and town streets during July and August, created by artists selected from across the UK and Europe, with their works becoming part of a North Shields Mural Trail.
Autumn brings new album and tour from Kathryn Williams
Singer-songwriter Kathryn Williams has trailed her 15th studio album, Mystery Park, which is set for release on September 26.
Fender fever pumps £16.5m into city
Sam Fender’s epic three-night takeover of St James’ Park has given Newcastle a £16.5 million boost, with 150,000 fans pouring into the city to see the North Shields star doing what he does best.
The weekend created a buzzing, festival-style atmosphere throughout the city centre, with bars, restaurants and hotels packed out.
“It was an unforgettable weekend showing Newcastle at its brilliant best,” said Cllr Abdul Samad.
NE1’s Stephen Patterson added: “This wasn’t just about the music, it was a cultural moment.”
New name, same goals for popular theatre company
A summer name change has seen the North East theatre company formerly known as November Club cast off the shades of autumn.
Emeli Sandé welcomes music funding win for Sunderland
Music star Emeli Sandé added her voice to the celebrations in Sunderland after it was confirmed that the city has secured significant new funding from Arts Council England to support its vibrant and growing music scene.
The announcement came during Sandé’s emotional, sold-out show at The Fire Station, where she performed under her birth name, Adele Sandé, for the first time in 18 years.
The concert marked the official launch of Sunderland’s Year of Music 2025–2026 on Saturday night with another packed to the rafters gig from Franz Ferdinand keeping the momentum going on Wednesday.
“It's really fantastic to hear that Sunderland's bid for investment from Arts Council England was successful and that it's going to be funding a lot of music around the city,” she said. “It's going to be even more vibrant, even more full of creativity and talent.
Artists going big on history in Hartlepool
An exhibition by Lewis Hobson, an artist famously at home with a large ‘canvas’, signals the start of the first Hartlepool Mural Festival.
Local talent given a slice of the spotlight at Coast Fest
North Shields’ music festival Coast Fest returns for its third year this weekend (June 27-29), promising a packed weekend of top drawer music, community spirit, family fun and the chance to catch rising local stars.
In a continued partnership with the Sunday for Sammy Trust, the festival will once again spotlight emerging North East talent on the dedicated Sammy Stage. The Trust, named in memory of actor Sammy Johnson, exists to nurture and support young performers across music, comedy, and theatre.
“Supporting home-grown talent is at the heart of everything we do at Sunday for Sammy,” said Ray Laidlaw, administrator of the Trust and founding member of Lindisfarne.
“Coast Fest provides an incredible platform for young artists to shine in front of new audiences, and we’re proud to be part of a celebration that champions local creativity and ambition.
A mother's death and a life told back to front
Anna Woodford’s mother, Moira, died in hospital during Covid. Not of Covid, though. “They didn’t know what it was,” says Anna. “In the end it was an ulcer or something.”
A first glimpse at Maiden Voyage
Anyone who follows Chelsea Halfpenny on social media was given a treat this week.
The North East actor and singer, known to millions of TV viewers for roles in Casualty and Emmerdale, shared a performance of a song from Maiden Voyage, the new musical she’s starring in, which opens on July 26 at Southwark Playhouse in London.
The production is based on the incredible true story of Tracy Edwards and the first all-female crew to compete in the 1989–90 Whitbread Round the World Race.
Make Waves was the track in question. Enjoy!
And talking of the Halfpennies…
This week it was confirmed that Gateshead actor Jill Halfpenny will star in Baby Doll, a new Paramount+ psychological thriller based on Hollie Overton’s bestselling novel.
The six-part series follows Lily, abducted as a teen by her teacher and held captive for eight years. After her escape, she reunites with twin sister Abby and their mother Eve (played by Jill), but rebuilding their lives proves far from simple.
Real-life sisters Tallulah and Delphi Evans play Lily and Abby, with Alfie Allen (Game of Thrones) as the manipulative abductor.
Described as “emotionally rich storytelling,” Baby Doll is now in production.
Full STEAM ahead to the future at Hopetown
A new interactive exhibition will open at Hopetown Darlington this summer as part of the S&DR200 celebrations.
STEAM to the Future, running from July 11 to October 5, will explore the transformative power of steam and the future of rail innovation, marking 200 years since the world’s first passenger railway journey.
The immersive exhibition is the second in a pair of flagship S&DR200 installations at Hopetown and follows Railway Pioneers: Celebrating the Railway Rockstars of the Past.
New voices, old treasures: Museum reimagines 250 years of history
A Big Game hunter’s trophy and now illegal birds’ eggs collection will be among items on show when a museum’s revamped gallery opens.
Historic Hebburn churches face closure
A Tyneside town faces the loss of two of its Victorian churches which are just over a mile apart.
Churches of St Oswald and St Cuthbert in Hebburn were built to serve what was then a thriving 19th century industrial town with a colliery, shipyards and many factories.
But congregations have now dwindled and the total for both Church of England places of worship is around 25.
David Cleugh, priest in charge at the two churches, said: “The Parochial Church Council of St Cuthbert’s and St Oswald’s has made the difficult decision to begin the process of exploring the closure of both churches.”
Reading 9 to 5: Free monthly books for babies in Newcastle
Every baby born in Newcastle between 1 May 2025 and 30 April 2026 will receive a free book every month until their fifth birthday, thanks to a new council-backed pilot with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
The scheme launched recently at Newcastle City Library, where families were given the first title: The Tale of Peter Rabbit.
Cllr Karen Kilgour said: “In Newcastle we want to give every baby the best start in life, and reading regularly to young children can be an extremely powerful part of their development and a great bonding experience.”
Inspired by her father’s inability to read and write, entertainment legend, Dolly started her Imagination Library 30 years ago for children within her home county. Three decades later, more than 280 million books have been given to three million children across five countries.
Picture this: Jesmond’s photo comp celebrates togetherness
Jesmond’s annual photo competition is back for 2025 with the theme ‘Togetherness’ — think family fun, local festivals, and community spirit.
Winners will feature in the 2026 Jesmond Calendar.
Anyone wishing to throw their snap into the ring can pick up an entry form at Jesmond Library or email info@jesmondfestival.org.uk. Deadline for entries is September 20, so still lots of time to capture that winning photo.
Inked in memories for Nadine
Singer Nadine Shah made sure she’ll always remember her time touring with The Pogues.
During an interview on BBC Radio 6, the Whitburn-born star told Lauren Laverne she’d gone and got herself a ‘POGUE’ tattoo while in Glasgow to commemorate her time touring with the legendary band earlier this year.
Not only that, but she convinced ‘about 11’ others to join her!
