Northern Heartlands

Northern Heartlands Northern Heartlands CIO uses the transforming power of creativity in all we do, but our method is grounded in the nitty-gritty of the real world.

Northern Heartlands believes in strong, connected and healthy local communities where people are actively involved in shaping their lives and their environment. We understand that communities need to be listened to first, that every place has its own unique circumstances, that problems and issues are always complex and multisided

We listen and build trust. We have trained community facilitators,

a network of skilled practitioners, and the experience to match the right person and approach with communities and projects. We use creative methods developed by artists to provide spaces in which people can pause, speak their own words, think differently, find new ways of doing things and form better versions of themselves, their community, their landscape or organisation. We facilitate the practical changes that communities identify and want to achieve. We learn from everything we do and share that learning widely, both at events and through our digital platform.

More exciting things happening in Shildon over the summer 😎🌞Join artist and comedian for creative activities for you...
12/06/2026

More exciting things happening in Shildon over the summer 😎🌞

Join artist and comedian for creative activities for young people aged 10–19.
Join us for the first session this Saturday

📅 Saturday, 20th June
🕧 10.00 am to 3.00 pm
📍Shildon Railway Institute, 78 Redworth Rd, DL4 2JJ

🌟Sign up before 19th June to secure your place🌟

Email us on [email protected]

This is part of PLACE Lab Shildon, supported through Into the Light, and is a chance for young people to have their voices heard while getting involved in a creative project about their town.
Council England The National Lottery Heritage Fund Town Council

Here's something worth taking a look at 👀!Not one but TWO artist in residence opportunities for up to 6 months each are ...
12/06/2026

Here's something worth taking a look at 👀!
Not one but TWO artist in residence opportunities for up to 6 months each are available at Dead Dog Gallery.
Apply now!
All the info needed below or click this link:
https://tinyurl.com/yc3hahn2

This week is Great Big Green Week, a national celebration of communities coming together to care for nature, tackle clim...
06/06/2026

This week is Great Big Green Week, a national celebration of communities coming together to care for nature, tackle climate change and make a positive difference where they live. 💚

We're thinking about the role artists can play in helping us understand and connect with the places around us.

Across Northern Heartlands projects, artists have worked alongside communities, farmers, land managers, scientists and local residents to explore our landscapes through creativity. They help us notice, question, listen and imagine; creating opportunities for people to share stories, build relationships and see familiar places in new ways.

Whether through walking, making, listening, storytelling or creating together, artists can help bring people into conversations about the future of our environment.

💚

We've got something exciting happening in Shildon this weekend!💖 Join artist and comedian Victoria Melody for a FREE cre...
02/06/2026

We've got something exciting happening in Shildon this weekend!💖

Join artist and comedian Victoria Melody for a FREE creative workshop for young people aged 10–19 this SATURDAY.

Vic will be in Shildon from Wednesday so you may see her out and about, be sure to say hi!

📅 Saturday 6 June at 11am until 1pm.
📍 Methodist Church, Shildon DL4 1AJ

The workshop is part of PlaceLab Shildon, supported through Into the Light, and is a chance for young people to have their voices heard while getting involved in a creative project about their town.

To find out more email [email protected]

the Light Council England National Lottery Heritage Fund Town Council

Did you come along to our Cultivate Ideas session at The Witham a couple of weeks ago? 💚It was great to welcome creativ...
02/06/2026

Did you come along to our Cultivate Ideas session at The Witham a couple of weeks ago? 💚

It was great to welcome creative practitioners from across County Durham to share ideas, make connections and reflect on what creativity, access and cultural participation can look like within our communities.

The session explored Cultivate Commissions, part of Into the Light which offers paid opportunities for creative practitioners to develop new work with communities across County Durham, with support around collaboration, creative development and socially engaged practice.

There are still two free Cultivate Ideas sessions coming up later this if you’d like to find out more about the commissions or meet others interested in applying:

• Friday 12 June - online 14.00 - 15.30
• Wednesday 17 June - Dead Dog Gallery14.30 -16.30

Thank you to everyone who came along and contributed so thoughtfully and generously to the conversation 💚

You can find out more about Cultivate Commissions 2026/7 on the Into the Light Durham website;

https://www.intothelightdurham.co.uk/

We were pleased to see our Creative Director Katy Milne contribute to the Creative PEC Symposium, hosted by Newcastle Un...
19/05/2026

We were pleased to see our Creative Director Katy Milne contribute to the Creative PEC Symposium, hosted by Newcastle University earlier this month 💚

Katy was invited to speak as part of a session led by Into the Light, bringing together partners across culture, economics, research and the creative industries.

Katy’s contribution focused on commissioning in practice - sharing how approaches can create space for experimentation, support artist progression and wellbeing, and open up opportunities for more people to take part. She spoke about the role of partnership working across organisations and communities in strengthening creative ecosystems, and the importance of thinking beyond individual projects to longer-term skills development and progression within the sector.

Designed as a shared conversation rather than a traditional panel, the session explored what meaningful collaboration looks like in place-based work, and what conditions are needed for creative activity to grow and last.

It was also an opportunity to ensure County Durham is part of the wider conversation, showcasing the depth of work happening here and building connections with partners across the North East and beyond.

Handleman Smith, Whelan and Gilpin.

This week is Creativity and Wellbeing Week, a chance to reflect on the role creativity can play in supporting mental hea...
18/05/2026

This week is Creativity and Wellbeing Week, a chance to reflect on the role creativity can play in supporting mental health, reducing isolation and helping people feel more connected 💚

Creative health is one area of our work. one of the main strands of our work. Through projects like Take Part in Teesdale, we’ve worked with artists, creative practitioners and communities to offer free creative sessions across rural Teesdale and Barnard Castle for people experiencing loneliness, isolation and poor mental health.

Participants explored photography, textiles, creative writing, drawing and filmmaking in relaxed community spaces where people could meet others, try something new and build confidence over time.

Recent research from Creative Lives, as part of the Know Your Neighbourhood programme funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, found that 89% of participants said creative projects helped them build social connections.

You can read the full report by clicking the link in our bio 👆

It’s something we recognise through our work every week. We see conversations turn into friendships, confidence begin to return, and people feeling more hopeful for the future.🫂

This work was made possible by Creative Lives , Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Arts Council England

We’re part of Durham Champions 💚Durham Champions is a network of organisations across the county, contributing to The Du...
15/05/2026

We’re part of Durham Champions 💚

Durham Champions is a network of organisations across the county, contributing to The Durham Story - a shared way of talking about what makes County Durham what it is, and why it matters.

At Northern Heartlands, we work with artists and communities across County Durham and beyond, where place is something lived and shaped over time. Through that work, we’re often exploring how people feel connected to where they live, and how those stories are held and shared.

Being part of Durham Champions is one way we can contribute to that wider picture - making sure those voices and places are part of how the county is understood.

Alongside partners like Durham Durham County Council , Durham University County Durham we’ll continue to support this through our work and partnerships.

We’re part of Durham Champions 💚Durham Champions is a network of organisations across the county, contributing to The Du...
14/05/2026

We’re part of Durham Champions 💚

Durham Champions is a network of organisations across the county, contributing to The Durham Story - a shared way of talking about what makes County Durham what it is, and why it matters.

At Northern Heartlands, we work with artists and communities across County Durham and beyond, where place is something lived and shaped over time. Through that work, we’re often exploring how people feel connected to where they live, and how those stories are held and shared.

Being part of Durham Champions is one way we can contribute to that wider picture - making sure those voices and places are part of how the county is understood.

Alongside partners like Business Durham, Durham County Council Durham University Visit County Durham, we’ll continue to support this through our work and partnerships.

Address

Barnard Castle

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+441833200220

Website

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