Join a series of welcoming creative workshops at the Centre for Local Studies, Darlington Library, exploring stories of place, memory, and belonging.

Connected Communities is led by the Institute for Collective Place Leadership at Teesside University, in collaboration with Creative Darlington, Darlington Library, and Darlington Assistance for Refugees. The project is supported by the AHRC Impact Acceleration Account and Creative Darlington.

Using local photographs, maps, and archival materials, participants will create visual responses through creative activities including:

• Collage
• Zine-making
• Visual storytelling
• Reminiscence boxes

These sessions invite people to reflect on personal memories, migration stories, neighbourhood histories, and connections to Darlington.

No artistic experience is needed – just curiosity and a willingness to share.

Who can join?

Everyone is welcome, including:

• Local residents
• Library users
• People interested in local history
• People from migrant and refugee backgrounds
• Anyone who enjoys creative activities and storytelling

Translation support can be arranged if needed.

Childcare support is provided on site. 

Workshop dates

Weekly sessions
Thursdays from 9 April onwards
12:00 – 14:00

Location

Centre for Local Studies
Darlington Library
Crown Street
Darlington, DL1 1ND

Delivered by

Institute for Collective Place Leadership Teesside University in collaboration with Darlington Library, Creative Darlington, and Darlington Assistance for Refugees

TO BOOK YOUR PLACE PLEASE VISIT: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/connected-communities-creative-storytelling-workshops-tickets-1985929337107

Darlington Hippodrome + The Hullabaloo  
11am – 5pm  
Tickets £75 +booking fee with bursary places available 

Speakers at the conference include writers Dame Pat Barker, Kasim Ali, Anna Barker, Sophie Mackintosh, Louise Powell and Shaun Wilson, plus agents, publishers, Faber Academy and Writers’ Block North East.  

The conference is for writers at all stages of their careers and aims to demystify the world of publishing. Across one day, a programme of panels, breakout sessions and practical workshops will cover writing about your life, building your brand online, and how to get to publication. There will be opportunity to meet other writers, visit the Drake the Bookshop pop-up and apply for industry one-to-ones with agents, editors or professional writers.  

Tees Valley – An Engine Room of Creative Production.  

Delivered by New Writing North on behalf of the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority. Funded by UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. 

Visit www.newwritingnorth.com for tickets  

Artist Helen Gordon is leading workshops in Darlington on the dates below, subject to enrolment.

Saturday 2nd May- Fused Glass Platters 

Saturday 23rd May- Fused Glass Panels

Both are 10am -4pm, in the Institute Room at Friends Meeting House, Darlington and both cost £95 but there is a discount code for 10% off.

Book your place or find out more at https://www.helengordonglass.co.uk/workshops  

Helen runs fusing workshops for beginners in Darlington and the surrounding area, and is a regular tutor for North Yorkshire Art School. Participants will be assisted to make their own bespoke artwork, while learning about the fascinating medium of glass, in these relaxed and friendly classes.

Advanced booking encouraged as workshops will proceed subject to enrolment reaching levels that makes them viable.

Book your free tickets now for a joyful and unmissable day of music, dance, art, and performance at the World Heritage Celebration Day at Hopetown Darlington on Saturday 18 April 2026, A.K.A. this Saturday https://rb.gy/1io1dn

The event programme has been co-ordinated by Taste of Africa, and marked the work of railways in bringing people together across the world.  Performers include Yesizwe Productions, Sophia Mendoza, Tosin Adu, and Hilaire Agnama, with performances taking place in the take place in the Goods Shed and in North Road Station Museum.

The first Tees Valley Writing Conference is coming to Darlington on Sunday 17 May 2026! 

Darlington Hippodrome + The Hullabaloo  
11am – 5pm  
Tickets £75 +booking fee with bursary places available 

Speakers at the conference include writers Dame Pat Barker, Kasim Ali, Anna Barker, Sophie Mackintosh, Louise Powell and Shaun Wilson, plus agents, publishers, Faber Academy and Writers’ Block North East.  

The conference is for writers at all stages of their careers and aims to demystify the world of publishing. Across one day, a programme of panels, breakout sessions and practical workshops will cover writing about your life, building your brand online, and how to get to publication. There will be opportunity to meet other writers, visit the Drake the Bookshop pop-up and apply for industry one-to-ones with agents, editors or professional writers.  

Tees Valley – An Engine Room of Creative Production.  

Delivered by New Writing North on behalf of the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority. Funded by UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. 

Visit www.newwritingnorth.com for tickets  

This exhibition will officially launch on Saturday, 11th April 2026 at 16:00 and the live event with zararuth begins that evening at 19:00, the exhibition will remain open to the public during Angels Cut standard weekend hours. A fantastic opportunity to see Art Demon and Darlington based singer/songwriter zararuth and savour a magical mix of music and visual art.

Delighted to share the North East Open Call below from Middlesbrough Art Week

Applications are now open for the North East Open Call (NEOC), a key exhibition within the MAW26 programme.

From September 24 to October 3, Middlesbrough Art Week returns, transforming the town with a programme of contemporary art exhibitions, events, and artist-led activity. As the North East’s largest annual contemporary art festival, MAW showcases diverse artistic practices while supporting artists working across the region and its connected communities.

Rather than working to a fixed theme, this open call invites artists to submit work that genuinely reflects their current practice. It is not looking for responses to a curatorial brief or concept; the panel is interested in what artists are already making. All media and disciplines are welcome.

Applications are welcomed from artists and creatives who are from or based in the North East, featuring existing work. Selected artists will present work as part of a group exhibition and, where appropriate, through site-responsive presentations across Middlesbrough during the festival.

The initial selection will be made by Penny Payne, NEOC Curator & NEOC Alumni Artist, alongside members of The Auxiliary Project Space and the MAW team.

Second-round applications will be reviewed by Penny Payne (NEOC Curator & NEOC Alumni Artist), David Hoyland, Director (Seventeen), Garth Gratrix, Artist/Director (Abingdon Studios), Olivia Mason (Artist Future Fund) & Harriet Sutcliffe (Newcastle Contemporary Art).

Deadline: March 29th at Midnight

Artist fee: £500

Find out more and apply: https://middlesbroughartweek.com/neoc26

Looking forward to visiting this new exhibition and attending the private view next week, and sharing the Institute for Collective Place Leadership’s message regarding both below.

Dear colleagues and friends,

This spring, policy meets participatory art as Teesside University and the Darlington Economic Campus present a new co-created exhibition exploring how creative engagement can reshape regional policymaking.

TitledReimagining Regional Policy through Creative Engagement, the exhibition is led by the Institute for Collective Place Leadership at Teesside University and co-organised with the Darlington Economic Campus, in collaboration with Creative Darlington. The project is supported by the UKRI Impact Acceleration Account and Creative Darlington.

The exhibition will run from 2–8 March 2026 at:
Friends Community Hub
6 Skinnergate
Darlington
DL3 7NB

Exhibition Opening Hours (2–8 March 2026):
Monday 2, Wednesday 4 and Friday 6 March: 11:00am–5:00pm
Tuesday 3 and Thursday 5 March: 11:00am–7:00pm
Saturday 7 March: 11:00am–3:00pm

The exhibition further details are available HERE

We warmly invite you to join us for the Private View on 3 March, 4:00–6:00 PM, which will be opened with remarks from Ellie Moir (Deputy Director, HM Treasury) and Steve Cummings (Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Knowledge Exchange, Teesside Uni). It would be wonderful to see you there and to share this work together. If you would like to attend the private view, please RSVP via this link: HERE 

The exhibition flyer can be viewed HERE
Details of the accompanying public screenings at The Forum are available HERE

Warm wishes,
Institute for Collective Place Leadership

Helen Gordon https://tinyurl.com/5buhs98k is promoting two Fused Glass Workshops (one on Saturday 25th April, the second on Saturday 23rd May 2026) for adults, with booking required, at The Friends Community Hub on Skinnergate in Darlington.