More than just a name change for North East Museums
A move into Northumberland required a name change for the organisation previously known as Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums.
Another ampersand might have done the trick, with ‘& Northumberland’ being inserted in the middle.
But you can have too much of a good thing and the announcement came this week that the cultural organisation with the newly expanded remit is now North East Museums.
Few will have been surprised by that. Not whizzy or tricksy, it does what it says on the tin.
An unexciting name nevertheless heralded what the region’s biggest cultural organisation was calling an exciting new chapter.
From April 1 next year, North East Museums (NEM) will take over the management of Woodhorn Museum in Ashington, Hexham Old Gaol and Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum from Northumberland County Council, bringing the number of venues it manages to 12.
It also looks after the archives for Tyne & Wear and runs arts and cultural projects across the region.
Keith Merrin, director of NEM and one-time director of Woodhorn, said: “This is a hugely positive and significant moment for both our organisation and our partners to ensure that by working together we can deliver the best museums, galleries and archives for the people of our region and visitors from all over the world.
“We were already working on a new name and brand for the organisation before Northumberland County Council approached us about the potential of managing their museums, and now our new name makes even more sense.”
Chris Mullin, who chairs NEM’s strategic board, said: “We welcome the opportunity to work with Northumberland County Council, bringing more museums into our partnership.
“Museums and galleries play an important role in the cultural life of the region and working together we aim to provide a consistent high quality experience for all our communities and visitors to the region.”
Glen Sanderson, leader of Northumberland County Council, said: “Museums are extremely important for our residents and visitors which is why the county council want to make sure we provide the very best offer we can.
“Our new providers come with a very impressive and proven track record and will bring a fresh spark which I am sure will be appreciated.”
From April 1, 2025, North East Museums will manage the following visitor attractions…
Arbeia Roman Fort and South Shields Museum & Art Gallery, both South Tyneside; Discovery Museum, Great North Museum: Hancock, Hatton Gallery and Laing Art Gallery, all in Newcastle; Hexham Old Gaol, Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum and Woodhorn Museum, Northumberland; Segedunum Roman Fort, Wallsend, and Stephenson Steam Railway, North Shields, both North Tyneside; and the Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead.