This just in from our Survey results
It's not too late to have your say - deadline extended to Fri 28 March!!
A Cultural Strategy sets out a shared vision of what we want for our County of Northumberland. It sets out our priorities and what we want to achieve to benefit those who work in the arts, culture and heritage sector and those that take part and are audiences and visitors.
We are refreshing the current strategy
Please help us by filling in the short survey
EXTENDED Deadline: 28th March
You will be entered into a prize draw to win two free theatre tickets!
Tips - you can fill it in here if you have a Substack account or here if you don’t.
The key themes emerging from the 40 survey responses regarding cultural infrastructure in Northumberland include:
1. Creative Spaces & Hubs
Affordable artist studios, co-working spaces, and exhibition venues, particularly in Berwick, Blyth, and Amble.
A dedicated creative hub in Blyth offering studio space, networking, and business support.
Use of empty retail spaces for pop-up creative businesses, studios, and open studio festivals.
2. Events & Festivals
An art tour mapping local artist studios, similar to Scotland’s Spring Fling.
A digital & new media festival featuring local and international talent on equal footing.
A waterfront cultural festival in Blyth celebrating its history and future in renewable energy.
A light festival inspired by Blyth’s lighthouse as a distinctive winter event.
More theatre, music, and arts festivals in towns like Morpeth, plus a venue for opera.
More food and drink events showcasing local producers.
3. Training & Skills Development
Northumberland-based training in creative industries, including technical theatre and film production.
Workshops for creatives on business skills like marketing, pitching, and finance.
Youth engagement initiatives, including Theatre in Education projects and career pathways.
More mentorship networks and support for emerging and working-class artists.
4. Community-Driven & Inclusive Culture
Grassroots, bottom-up approach—more support for independent artists, rather than top-down imposed projects.
Opportunities for disabled artists and working-class creatives to be better supported.
More creative workshops for adults and children, including dance for wellbeing.
Residencies and artist collaborations in climate change, health, and education sectors.
5. Accessibility & Infrastructure
Better transport links—a cultural bus or minibus service for events.
A county-wide cultural calendar to help audiences access events easily.
More community exhibition spaces in the north of the county.
Stronger connections with Scottish and Nordic cultural organisations.
6. Long-Term Investment & Sustainability
A sustainable funding strategy for individual artists and cultural organisations.
Support for climate-conscious artistic projects and heritage-based regeneration.
A Creative Commons model for shared workspaces and international collaboration.
The overall vision is for Northumberland’s creative sector to be accessible, well-funded, community-led, and globally connected while celebrating its local distinctiveness and heritage.
🎙️
Dear Friend,
The Cultural Strategy for the county of Northumberland was signed off and published in 2018. Having a Cultural Strategy provides us with an agreed shared vision of what we want to achieve, what are priorities are and how we attract investment into Northumberland to benefit us all.
Given the infrastructure and global changes we have experienced, we are planning to update the strategy to reflect new ambitions and goals as a document to uplift and inspire the cultural and heritage workforce.
You can view the current strategy here.
Back in 2018, we promised;
A Northumberland Culture Partnership of strategic organisations will support: – a strategic fundraising plan for capital projects and programmes – a joined up sharing of marketing and programme collaborations e.g. national/international touring of theatre productions or exhibitions – reaching and engaging with more individuals and diverse communities.
We defined key indicators of success as:
– World class cultural venues and attractions
– A culture led tourism profile of international standing
– Confident and entrepreneurial local people leading innovation and growth in the creative industries
Our working environments have shifted and changed; we’ve lived through a global pandemic. Lots of us have pivoted our work to survive and we’ve partnered with new organisations here at home and globally. There have been opportunities, capital projects and new partnerships stabilising the course ahead.
There has also been much change and turbulence personally and professionally.
This short survey will help inform a year-long consultation process leading to the creation of a refresh of the Cultural Strategy for the county of Northumberland.
Inside, there are 20 survey questions designed to assess which parts of Northumberland's Cultural Strategy (2018-2030) are still fit for purpose. Your insight and input will also gather insights for a new strategy publishing in Spring 2026.
We would like to hear from a vast array of people working in the cultural, heritage and creative sector in Northumberland. We are also keen to hear from audiences and those who visit local culture and live outside of the area too.
The questions focus on engagement, accessibility, impact, and future aspirations.
We are grateful for your time, honesty and enthusiasm.
About you
We have taken the decision to make sure we deeply understand your views and so this survey is not anonymous however, if you would like to be anonymous please put hello@culturenorthumberland.co.uk as your email address and x in any other boxes relating to your personal details.
Your information will be kept by Northumberland County Council inline with their GDPR policy.
Here is the link to fill in the survey which will take 5 minutes of your time and ensure you have a say in the future planning.
Many thanks for your continued support
Team Culture Northumberland
A Cultural Strategy sets out a shared vision of what we want for our County of Northumberland. It sets out our priorities and what we want to achieve to benefit those who work in the arts, culture and heritage sector and those that take part and are audiences and visitors.
We are refreshing the current strategy
Please help us by filling in the short survey
You will be entered into a prize draw to win two free theatre tickets!
Dissapointing to see no studio space requirements in Hexham, as a recent series of meetings with the Council to discuss 'Hexham as an Art Town', did draw attention to the lack of affordable space to Visual Artists and Creatives.
Hexham Cultural Network met in mid February to gather insights from the meetings.
If you wish to engage or seek out their findings try contacting clerk@hexhamtowncouncil.gov.uk
A cultural festival along the coast called between Berwick and Blyth. Berwick and Blyth are not included for obvious reason as far to much is invested already in these two locations but a look at all the culture along the coast between those points.