Culture Digest 31.01.25
Our weekly round up of some of the arts and culture stories from across the North East, which caught our attention over the past seven days
Dragon’s Den star fronts new BBC series made in Newcastle
Sara Davies was in Newcastle this week to celebrate the launch of The Big Idea Works at a special screening at the Tyneside Cinema.
The North East entrepreneur and TV star joined the production team and an invited audience to get a first glimpse of the new 16-part series, filmed in Newcastle and produced by Gateshead-based Twenty Six 03.
Supported by North East Screen, County Durham-born Sara spent six weeks bringing people with amazing concepts together with experts and makers to see if they could be crafted into reality.
David Whetstone was at last night’s lovely event. Read his full report here.
Dates confirmed for Lumiere 2025
It’s still some way off but you should note the dates if you want to join the throng for the ninth edition of the biennial festival of light-based art.
Lumiere 2025 will take place from November 13 to 15.
A Thursday to Saturday event once again, but the programme will be new and producers Artichoke are also promising a revised format.
Partly they attribute this to “rising costs and funding challenges” and are calling on even more local businesses and individuals to help sustain something that leaves “a legacy of opportunity, joy and inspiration for County Durham and beyond”.
Partnership to support North TV writers renewed
A partnership designed to find and nurture writing talent from the region will continue to fuel opportunities in the screen industry.
The new three-year commitment agreed between Channel Four’s 4Skills and New Writing North was announced at the latter’s sold out Screenwriting Weekender, which debuted in Newcastle today (Friday) with a keynote speech from BAFTA and Golden Globe* winning Gateshead writer, Peter Straughan.
*He might add another BAFTA and an Oscar to that list in the next few weeks thanks to his adapted screenplay for Conclave.
Aimed at supporting the development of new and emerging writers, and those that may want to crossover into screenwriting from other art forms, the partnership includes bursaries, bespoke programmes of talent development, screen industry insight and expertise, networking, mentoring and peer-support.
Record number of entries for Northumberland Open Exhibition
Woodhorn Museum is reporting the highest ever number of submissions for this year’s Northumberland Open Exhibition.
The judging panel have been busy reviewing all 458 entries and selecting those artworks which will be displayed when the exhibition opens on February 22 and runs to June.
The largest exhibition of its type in Northumberland, once it opens, thousands of visitors will vote for the People’s Choice Award, with the winner revealed just before it the exhibition run ends.
Exciting times for all who entered a piece for consideration…*
*I’m having flashbacks to after school palpitations which ensued as we waited for Children’s BBC legend Tony Hart to introduce that week’s Gallery.
Andrew Scott takes centre stage for Sam Fender’s People Watching video
After releasing the title single from his upcoming album, People Watching back in November, North Shields music star, Sam Fender has just released the video to go with it… and he’s enlisted a BAFTA and Olivier Award-winner to help convey the song’s emotional story.
Acclaimed stage and screen actor Andrew Scott (Fleabag, All Of Us Strangers, Pride, Hamlet, Vanya, Sherlock, Ripley) embodies the grief, loss and love explored in the track, which Fender has said was written for his very close friend and actress, Annie Orwin - best known for playing foster carer Lou in Byker Grove - who passed away in 2023.
Of his involvement, Scott was full of praise and gratitude, saying: “Sam's masterpiece of a song has become a true friend to me.
“Working on it was truly cathartic, and I'll always be grateful to Sam for his extraordinary talent, and for the other artists who made this film, and of course to my mum, who I will hold in my heart 'til the day I die.”
Read more: Dig - New play excavates the present from the future
National Trust counts the cost of Storm Éowyn
National Trust properties in Northumberland are assessing the damage and repair costs of recent Storm Éowyn.
Less than two months after Storm Darragh swept across the country, felling 30 trees at Cragside, the Trust estate near Rothbury has suffered further losses with another 100+ trees bought down.
Meanwhile on the 13,500-acre Wallington Estate, dozens of trees were windblown or snapped, including 200-year-old beeches planted as part of the original garden designs in the East Wood.
Stories from behind prison walls form part of Postgraduate Research Conference
The first of what is hoped will be the annual Postgraduate Research Conference by participants from Newcastle and Northumbria universities takes place tomorrow (February 1).
Organised by the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne, the event aims to showcase new work on the history and archaeology of the North East.
Proceedings will consist of seven talks including one from PhD student Kerri Armstrong who is studying previously unexamined parole records of 203 jailed female offenders from Newcastle, Durham and York gaols to provide a window into the lives of women in the region between 1853-1887.
Newcastle Fringe is open for business
Applications for those wishing to perform as part of this year’s Newcastle Fringe Festival are open.
Taking place between July 22 and August 2, the burgeoning 10-day event will be bigger again, offering 160 performances across eight venues.
Theatre, Comedy, Dance, Circus, Music, Cabaret, Magic, Drag, Family… the list of what they’re looking for goes on and on.
The deadline for applications is February 28. Visit the website for all the details.
Read more: Northumberland exhibition draws on River Aln
Anglo-Saxon en-suite solves Royal Bayeux Tapestry mystery
Research led by a North East archaeologist has uncovered evidence of a long lost residence of Harold, the last Anglo-Saxon King of England, who was killed in the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
By reinterpreting previous excavations and conducting new surveys in the West Sussex coastal village of Bosham, a team from Newcastle University, together with colleagues from the University of Exeter, believe they have located a hall belonging to Harold Godwinson.
Read more: Curated Culture 29.01.25 - Our latest what’s on suggestions
Luxury 5D cinema experiences on the menu at an old dance hall
After packing out a string of pop up events at Newcastle’s Alfie’s Bar, the 5D film-watching phenomenon, Eatflix has moved into a permanent home in a former dance hall on Chillingham Road, Heaton.
Offering an intriguing experience in which a carefully designed and co-ordinated tasting menu of dishes and drinks are pinpointedly served at special moments during the screening of a classic film, Eatflix will welcome the general public next week for evenings crafted around beloved film, Ratatouille.
This week, founders brothers Joe and Ollie Brack have been asking audiences including NUFC players, North East singer songwriter Andrew Cushin to give what sound like delightful proceedings a test run.
Tickets are £75 each. There are family screenings at weekends. For all the information, visit the website.
Read more: Can pottery be an eco-friendly artform?
Major exhibition at The Bowes focuses on its artist founder
The Bowes Museum is staging a major exhibition to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of its co-founder, French-born actress, artist and collector, Josephine Bowes.
The exhibition, titled From Josephine Bowes: Trendsetters and Trailblazers, runs from February 8 to June 29.
Organised into four thematic sections, presenting works from painting, drawing, film and photography to sculpture, ceramics, furniture and textiles, highlights from Joséphine’s expansive 18th and 19th century collections are paired with significant loans from 20th century European history and new works by leading artists today in the North of England.
Punk shirt parachutes into auction
A years-long dedication to punk has paid off for one Northumberland fan.
His punk parachute shirt, kept for decades after being bought in a Vivien Westwood boutique, has been sold for £3,500 by Newcastle auctioneers Anderson & Garland.
Described as ‘incredibly rare’ by the auction house, the distinctive shirt features straps, buckles, and a distinctive 'hoover' ring suspended at the chest, petrol-blue lower sleeves and a khaki cuff on the right wrist.
Tees Valley artists, listen up!
Applications are still open for the second year of the Tees Valley Artists of the Year Programme.
Up to five artists working in Film, Literature, Live Performance, Music, Visual Arts and/or Craft & Design will be chosen to benefit from the talent accelerator programme including: a year-long bursary (£22,932); a £6k development budget; development and network support; tailored PR, marketing and fundraising support; and peer support and training.
Announced by the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority, the programme runs from April this year to March 2026. Applications close on February 15. All the information and criteria can be found here.