Culture Northumberland Research Interviews #5

Good afternoon all.

How has your week been?

Claire here. I’m aiming to publish more of the behind the scenes of our current research into the possibilities for Culture Northumberland. I’m half way through a series of conversations with artists, small arts companies and venues.

You can find our previous posts here.

This week, I meet with Phil Douglas, the CEO of Curious Arts. You can listen to our conversation here (click the play button above) or read the transcript if you’d prefer.

Our conversation spanned resilience, sustainability and the drive to programme LGBTQIA+ activity and work for young people, their families and wider audiences.

We talked about programming in and outside of venues, young people’s loneliness and isolation in rural Northumberland. We also covered Phil and the team’s decision to become a charity and how they are leaning into their new status.

This was a bright and insightful conversation with evidence from a company who are leading the charge in important work across the North East.

If you are unfamiliar with Curious Arts

They say;

Curious Arts is a Newcastle Gateshead based charity championing and developing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual + arts, artists and communities across the North East of England and beyond.

Producers of award-winning Curious Festival – a celebration of LGBTQIA+ culture, Curious Arts co-ordinate queer arts network Queer Arts North and develop community-focused arts projects and events throughout the year, in partnership with cultural and community organisations from across the region.

Curious Arts is currently a member of the following networks: Queer Arts North, Wear and Tyne Festivals, Tees Valley Festivals, Middlesbrough Cultural Partnership. 

Wildflower (c) Curious Arts

Sign ups and further resources;

• https://www.prideactionnorth.org.uk/

• Curious Arts Mailing List - https://curiousarts.org.uk/news

• It’s LGBT+ History month this month which you can read more about here.

! Reminders !

Dates for your diary

Read more, see dates and pop along to join in;

Northumberland cultural co-working dates 2024

Calling all freelance creatives 👋🏻 Fancy meeting some of your cultural sector/ creative colleagues? Want to share ideas, catch up and collaborate? Need some accountability to get some work done? Come along to a 2024 Northumberland cultural co-working session.

Read full story

🎙️

JOIN US FOR A LIVE PODCAST RECORDING

Continuing the conversation…

Leila D’aronville and I are recording a podcast episode on a topic with are both passionate about; Generosity.

And the best news you’re all invited!

More here and book your free spot. This is a total test of a new format for us and we’d be delighted if some of you want to join us live.

Our podcast will be an hour long and we’ll explore; Generosity, reciprocity and leadership in the arts and cultural sector. You’ll be welcome to ask questions in the chat live on zoom or leave them here in the comments? Join us 16th Feb at 10am and help shape our conversation, provocations and next steps.

Thanks for reading. We’d love to here more from you in the comments or in reply to this email.

Claire

Claire Venus

Culture Northumberland

Thanks so much to our recent supporters here at Culture Northumberland;

Esmé Weijun Wang,Vanessa Priest, Lindsey Mclaren, Louise Mabbs,

Hilary Elder, Republic Gallery, Dex Hanlon, Dispel Develop, Alison EdwardsA Recumbent Prattler, Lyn Campbell - you’ll learn more about their work soon.