Equal Arts

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Equal Arts We are the North East’s creative ageing charity pioneering work in this field.

Supporting people 55+ & those living with dementia through creativity to help improve wellbeing & reduce loneliness. We are advocates of creative ageing, providing opportunities for self-expression to help improve wellbeing. We strongly believe in the positive health impacts of the arts and support care staff and artists delivering musical, visual and movement-based creative activities with active older people and in dementia care settings.

Can you help us shape better cancer care for people living with dementia?We've been awarded funding by Macmillan Cancer ...
19/10/2026

Can you help us shape better cancer care for people living with dementia?

We've been awarded funding by Macmillan Cancer Support to launch Connected Care – a new project putting the voices and experiences of people living with both dementia and cancer at the heart of improving care.

Working alongside St Oswald's Hospice, we’ll be bringing people together through creative workshops with artist Nat Yates to share their experiences and develop new resources for patients and training for NHS staff.

Kate Parkin, Arts & Health Programme Lead at Equal Arts, said: "This project is about helping develop dementia-friendly cancer care which empowers people to make informed choices and helps NHS staff to support patients’ journeys."

Could you help us make a difference?

We're inviting people in the North East who are living with dementia and cancer, as well as family carers and friends, to get involved.

Please share with anyone you think may be interested. Thank you.

Find out more: https://www.equalarts.org.uk/our-work/connected-care

Email: [email protected]
Call: 0191 261 1619

Trusting the process with Wood Green in Gateshead! The group have been supported by artist these past few months turnin...
06/10/2026

Trusting the process with Wood Green in Gateshead! The group have been supported by artist these past few months turning mark-making into collage before digitising their work together to create this fab fabric!

New outdoor cushions to give the garden a splash of colour incoming ..........

NAPA - Activity Gateshead Council Arts Council England

Head to Newcastle Libraries tomorrow for a day of free, creative workshops as together we celebrate Older People's Day!O...
30/09/2026

Head to Newcastle Libraries tomorrow for a day of free, creative workshops as together we celebrate Older People's Day!

Our inclusive, dementia-friendly visual arts group is opening it's doors up to the public between 10.30am - 12.30pm for the session lead by artist Kathryn Thompson.

At 1.45pm head up to Level 2's Bewick Hall for the age-friendly ceilidh, with dancing and live music from local band The Redheughers.

Places can be booked using the links in our bio

Head to Newcastle Libraries tomorrow for a day of free, creative workshops as together we celebrate Older People's Day!O...
30/09/2026

Head to Newcastle Libraries tomorrow for a day of free, creative workshops as together we celebrate Older People's Day!

Our inclusive, dementia-friendly visual arts group is opening it's doors up to the public between 10.30am - 12.30pm for the session lead by artist Kathryn Thompson. Places can be booked here or by calling us on 0191 261 1619.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/older-peoples-celebration-day-city-lines-artworkshop-tickets-1999668896499

At 1.45pm head up to Level 2's Bewick Hall for the age-friendly ceilidh, with dancing and live music from the The Redheughers
Book a spot here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/older-peoples-celebration-day-celidh-tickets-1998432939719

-friendly The Culture Vulture

Delighted to be at the tonight & hearing the fantastic work taking place to support people across the region 🤩🤩
10/09/2026

Delighted to be at the tonight & hearing the fantastic work taking place to support people across the region 🤩🤩

Calling all library and museum staff! LibrariesConnected Libraries Unlimited National Museums Scotland Are you looking a...
17/08/2026

Calling all library and museum staff! LibrariesConnected Libraries Unlimited National Museums Scotland

Are you looking at ways to widen your offer for people 65+ and bring collections to a new audience? Our Reading with Dementia training workshops provide firsthand experiences of using collections as the catalyst for engaging sessions that support people to continue reading for enjoyment.

Join us online on September 23 from 10am. Tickets cost £55 per person and can be booked by dropping us a DM.

Along with three other fantastic charities, we’re finalists in the North East Charity Awards for Outstanding Contributio...
14/08/2026

Along with three other fantastic charities, we’re finalists in the North East Charity Awards for Outstanding Contribution to Social Change!

Two years ago we had an idea to create a dementia-friendly book inspired by the excellent Bewick collection here at Newcastle Libraries Developed with and for people living with dementia, it was shaped by the ideas and feedback people in the North East with lived experience of dementia.

What started out as a creative idea quickly highlighted a gap in bookshops and libraries nationally. Where were the books supporting people with dementia to continue reading for enjoyment?

After months building partnerships, delivering creative workshops, training, evaluation and forming new links across the UK, this June we staged the National Reading with Dementia Symposium here in Newcastle.

Now the cherry on top is being shortlisted in the

In the words of Hamilton, Reading with Dementia isn’t a moment it’s a movement and we can’t wait to see what happens next!

Arts Council England LibrariesConnected The Reading Agency Dementia UK Dementia Community

It may be the summer break but creative workshops are continuing!! From care homes to art galleries & Newcastle Librarie...
11/08/2026

It may be the summer break but creative workshops are continuing!! From care homes to art galleries & Newcastle Libraries our team of artists have been supporting people to explore new art forms, discover the joy of a bit of dance & what's possible with your imagination!

NAPA - Activity

Last week we celebrated the life of Anne Walton, our friend and former Chair of our Board of Trustees.Since joining the ...
10/07/2026

Last week we celebrated the life of Anne Walton, our friend and former Chair of our Board of Trustees.

Since joining the board in July 2019 Anne has been an outstanding advocate for creative ageing and the value it can bring, having seen the benefit firsthand as a key member of the Creative Age group at Washington Arts Centre for 10 years.

A few weeks ago Anne wanted to share what the group had meant to her, she told us: “As someone who has never been very artistic or creative, the past years in the group have been fantastic. The quality of the artists sharing their skills and knowledge has meant that I and others have been able to produce wonderful pieces.  

“Whilst it is not a support group, we do support one another in many ways noticeable as we have all aged. Birthdays are celebrated with candles, cards and cake, and an integral important part of the group is the break for tea and biscuits! Everyone in the group is so proud of the group and all it has achieved.”

Speaking with enthusiasm and candor, Anne’s vibrancy and conviction captured the attention of audiences, whether speaking at national conferences, with funders, group participants or King Charles during a recent garden party at Buckingham Palace.

Her support to us here on the Equal Arts team and her commitment to supporting people to age well was invaluable, as were her experiences, insights and her kindness.

Last week’s celebration in Birtley heard this song Why Walk When You Can Fly – a fitting tribute to a woman who lived large, and always with a flash of colour.

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A huge thank you to everyone who attended & contributed to the National Reading with Dementia Symposium this week with ...
09/07/2026

A huge thank you to everyone who attended & contributed to the National Reading with Dementia Symposium this week with



Representatives from across the UK headed to to share their different approaches to dementia-friendly reading

each with the same mission of creating connections & supporting people living with dementia to continue reading for enjoyment.

Rounding off the full day of presentations, panel discussions and workshops, Luke Burton, Director of Libraries at Arts Council England, shared his reflections.

He said: “We can talk about metrics all we want but it is the stories of people’s lives that are the most impactful and there’s been a real benefit of hearing the different experiences in the room

"It is great to see the impact of the work being shared. What has come through is the empowerment of participants."

We'll be sharing more on the symposium, dementia-friendly reading and what next over the coming weeks!

Address

Newcastle City Library, Level 3, New Bridge Street West
Gateshead
NE18AX

Opening Hours

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

Telephone

+441912611619

Website

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