Creative Heritage Studios CIC

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Creative Heritage Studios CIC Our mission is to carry out projects that fuse culture and commercial activity successfully.

Activities include training, mentoring, public engagement and art commissions. We are committed to supporting the next generation of neurodiverse creatives.

We are delighted to announce that we have been commissioned to produce bespoke gifts for the nominees and VIPs for the M...
04/08/2026

We are delighted to announce that we have been commissioned to produce bespoke gifts for the nominees and VIPs for the Mercury Prize Limited awards.

But this is a co-design project with a difference.

Utilising 15 years of product design and manufacturing experience, our Director, Corinne Lewis-Ward MA 🟢, has been working with Newcastle College Mandela Collective students.

This project was designed and facilitated by Creative Heritage Studios CIC Director and Founder Corinne Lewis-Ward, to boost employability for young people through real-world experience, whilst celebrating Newcastle's heritage and the students' collaborative and creative skills. This was achieved through a series of workshops and collaborative co-design sessions with the amazingly talented students from Newcastle College's Mandela Collective. The brief was to co-design bespoke commemorative gifts for the 2026 Mercury Prize nominees & VIPs.

Creative Heritage Studios is a North East CIC that delivers projects that explore how culture and commercial activity can coexist without compromising cultural quality and values. Their aim is to support creativity and employability amongst neurodivergent youth.

The creative partnership between Creative Heritage Studios CIC, Newcastle Colleges Mandela Collective, Newcastle City Council Creative Central NCL and the Mercury Prize made this all possible

Please follow to find out more about the gifts being produced and the behind-the-scenes work with students from Newcastle College.

28/07/2026

As part of the Helix Arts Better Connect sessions, we interviewed Marilyn to find out more about her and her artwork. Marilyn has been crafting multiple versions of the artwork using different techniques to create some beautiful images, from painting to drawing to multimedia techniques. She joined Better Connect to dedicate time for herself.

Marilyn says she can’t draw, but we absolutely disagree; her unique style is so inspiring, and now we get to see what the artwork looks like on the final bag.

The Better Connect sessions are about making space for participants to be creative and improve their mental health and wellbeing, but they provide so much more than that. People share their stories, talk about their week, have fun, forget their worries for a couple of hours and build confidence and pride in their creative ability.

Thank you to the team at The Meadows Community Centre North Shields for looking after us so well.

Better Connect is Helix Arts Creative Health programme

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This activity is funded by Arts Council England

02/07/2026

Here is a sneak peek behind the scenes of the Helix Arts Better Connect sessions we have been commissioned to design and run.

What has blown us away is how hard everyone has worked in the sessions. Many of the participants have talked about how they cannot draw, but we see so much creativity and talent in the room. One of the techniques we have been using is a range of short drawing exercises this has really helped participants loosen up and reduce perfectionism.

It’s been so joyful to see people’s confidence grow through the first 6 weeks. We cannot wait to see what their bags and window vinyls will look like.

We began this project exploring the beautiful gardens and allotments at The Meadows Community Centre pausing, connecting between nature and creativity provided so much inspiration for the participants.

Better Connect is Helix Arts' Creative Health programme funded by Arts Council England

01/07/2026

As part of the Helix Arts Better Connect sessions, we interviewed Marilyn to find out more about her and her artwork. Marilyn has been crafting multiple versions of the artwork using different techniques to create some beautiful images, from painting to drawing to multimedia techniques. She joined Better Connect to dedicate time for herself.

Marilyn says she can’t draw, but we absolutely disagree; her unique style is so inspiring, and we can’t wait to see what the artwork looks like on the final bag and window vinyl.

The Better Connect sessions are about making space for participants to be creative and improve their mental health and wellbeing, but they provide so much more than that. People share their stories, talk about their week, have fun, forget their worries for a couple of hours and build confidence and pride in their creative ability.

Thank you to the team at The Meadows Community Centre North Shields for looking after us so well.

Better Connect is Helix Arts’ Creative Health programme

This project is funded by Arts Council England

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We are halfway through the Helix Arts Better Connect sessions at The Meadows Community Centre in North Shields. The work...
16/06/2026

We are halfway through the Helix Arts Better Connect sessions at The Meadows Community Centre in North Shields. The work produced so far is wonderful.

We invited participants to create artwork that will be heat-pressed onto their very own bags. The group are also working on an additional artwork for a window vinyl they can take home and display.

Here is a sneak peek of the artwork. Let us know what you think in the comments.

Better Connect is Helix Arts Creative Health programme



This activity is funded by Arts Council England

02/04/2026

Are you a Local Library Lover? If you are then take a look at this.

The collection I co-designed with local people and staff at Gateshead Library has been flying off the shelves.

So I wanted to have a throwback Thursday moment to remember the launch day in March where we saw almost 2000 people enjoy all of the activities that the library team planned.

At the launch Rachel Ridley from Gateshead Library showed the Vice Lord-Lieutenant, Lt. General Robin Brims the collection. He was very impressed to see a collection that celebrated Gateshead Libraries 100th birthday.

And as you can see we had customers buying multiple products from the collection which was wonderful to see.

Feedback from Gateshead Council is that the stock is flying off the shelves which is very exciting. As a designer this is the aim and co-design and public consultation really help with this.

Such a wonderful project with wonderful in one of the best public libraries that will hopefully serve the community for another 100 years!!

Gateshead Libraries

27/03/2026

Take a closer look at the Gateshead Libraries centenary collection.

Working with members of the public and staff to create a collection that resonates with the public was the aim of this project.

Co-Design is as much about listening as it is about designing. Giving people the space and time to contribute their thoughts and feelings about a place that is dear to them.

I have been blown away by the response to the collection and I was there on the launch day (7th of March) and the library was buzzing with activity. They had 1700 visitors on the day and the team at the library did a phenomenal job of planning and delivering all of their activities.

You can purchase the collection at the library while stocks last. Pop along and check out the collection and the displays that celebrate this landmark moment for Gateshead Library.

Hi everyone 👋🏻 Corinne here!I wanted to share a sneak peak of the centenary project I have been working on since the Sum...
03/03/2026

Hi everyone 👋🏻 Corinne here!

I wanted to share a sneak peak of the centenary project I have been working on since the Summer of 2025.

This project was an absolute delight, working with the public and staff at Gateshead Libraries to explore the crucial role that this library has had in Gateshead for 100 years.

The opportunity to fuse public engagement, my 14 years of design experience through Powder Butterfly and exploring the libraries history and archive was an opportunity not to be missed.

The Library team are an absolute dream to work with and if you head to Gateshead Central Library you will see the full collection on display and available to purchase.

There are all sorts of activities at the Library this weekend on Saturday the 7th of March and I will be there in the shop answering any questions you might have about this project or the collection that has been created. I will be there from 10am for an hour or so. So pop down say hello and check out the Centenary Collection.

30/01/2026

Come with me to celebrate community, creativity, neurodiversity and the Tyne Derwent Way.

Find out more about this project by searching for Tyne Derwent Way in a box.

Special thanks goes out to Lucy from the Tyne Derwent Way project who has been a huge support throughout this project. And she has been the one to bring all stakeholders together.

Equal Arts who helped us identify residential homes to receive our sensory boxes. And coordinated the successful delivery of them. A special thanks goes out to Nicola Kendall who worked with Lucy and I on the celebration and the delivery of the boxes.

Jonpaul Kirvan, FRSA from Orbis Community who gifted the printing art activity for the celebration day.

All of the artists and practitioners that were involved in the delivery of the sessions.
Kirstie Mawhinney, Bethan Laker, Caroline Bottomly, Joanne Howell & Suzanne Amey.

Their creativity and hard work was what made these session so inclusive and accessible.

All of the young people that did a phenomenal job of creating the boxes and their contents. And their parents and guardians that supported them to attend.

This project was carried out through Creative Heritage Studios CIC and it is so heart warming to see the results. Our mission is to create inclusive opportunities for young people who are neurodivergent to help them build confidence, skills, hope and a sense of purpose.

In a world where at times you feel powerless to have a positive impact it’s projects like this that remind you that YOU CAN.

18/12/2025

Hey everyone Corinne here!!

I love it when I get to pass on my skills (that I have built over 14 years designing products for Powder Butterfly) to creatives in the local community.

And the Helix Arts Winter Well-being Workshops were a perfect opportunity to do this.

Helix Arts asked me to come up with some workshops that would be a little bit different, so I created two workshops one to create artwork for laser engraved bookmarks and the other to create laser engraved coasters.

All of the participants were amazing. They were highly creative, fully engaged & totally committed to the process and many of them increased their confidence during the session.

What I also loved was that some of the participants really enjoyed the opportunity to switch off from a busy day and enjoy some quiet creative time.

I think that all participants produce beautiful work and I cannot wait for them to see the finish product. They should be very proud of themselves.

These workshops would not be possible without the work of Helix Arts so a huge thank you to Helix Arts and the team and special thank you to Jos and all of the volunteers that helped during the sessions. Thank you for making this opportunity available for local people, and for asking me to be part of it.

Let me know if this is the sort of project that you would like to be involved with and follow me to find out more about the public engagement work that I do as a designer and artist.

Address

John Marley Centre, Muscott Grove
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE156TT

Telephone

+447940537024

Website

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