Learn how to hand draw repeating prints with industry professional Lauren Wright at a half day Creating Repeating Patterns workshop at The Bridge Centre for Visual Art in Darlington 10.30am to 2.30pm on Saturday 10th June, priced £25- with booking required.
Booking: To book your place please email laurenmiriamwright@hotmail.co.uk
Really enjoyed a recent sunny Bank Holiday weekend visit to Seaton Delaval Hall, where it was great to see the work of audio producer, Chantal Herbert and cultural curator and photographer, Dami Fawehinmi, dancer Maria Isidora and designer-maker and architect, Edmond Salter, displayed in situ within the hall and grounds as part of the North East Emerging Artist Award 2022 exhibition, which closes soon on Sunday 11th June 2023.
The exhibited works utilized different media powerfully to illuminate and explore different aspects of the site’s character and heritage in my view, adding to my appreciation of the location. Edmond Salter and Caroline Collinge from Cabinet of Curiosity Studio will begin work on a new programme in venues across Darlington (Darlington Library, The Friends Community Hub and the Education Room in South Park) as part of a programme supported by Arts Council England Project Funding and Creative Darlington beginning later this year.
In the meantime, just wanted to pass on my thanks to all involved in this fantastic exhibition at Seaton Delaval Hall, and if you can go and see it set within a fascinating building with beautiful grounds I’d recommend making the trip.
Darlington Orchestra’s concerts have attracted large audiences, as shown above, and their next takes place on Saturday 1st July at 7.30pm in the Dolphin Centre’s Central Hall. It presents a variety of light classical music, including work by Handel, Slaughter on Tenth Avenue by Richard Rodgers, Offenbach’s energetic Orpheus in the Underworld overture, and the exuberant Pomp and Circumstance March No.1 by Edward Elgar.
Ticket prices remain the same as the previous concert – at just £5 and £7 – so the orchestra’s concerts are accessible and to help people enjoy live classical music. A printed programme is included in the ticket price. It provides brief details about the music and composers; plus, there’ll be a version available specially for children aged 5–11 years.
Special guests will be Darlington Clarinet Ensemble, performing two short sets.
When: Saturday 1st July 2023 at 7.30pm (doors open 7pm)
Where: Central Hall at the Dolphin Centre, Horsemarket, Darlington DL1 5RP
Call: 01325 406000
Tickets: £7 (£5 concessions) from the venue
Online tickets: tinyurl.com/ConcertSummer2023 (+ booking fee)
Please note: cash sales only at the concert for tickets (subject to availability)
A few years ago Creative Darlington supported Helix Arts in leading the first Flourish programme , which offered mentoring support to selected artists, and guidance in developing and applying for funding to deliver community orientated proposals in whole or in part in Darlington borough. As a result of the last Flourish programme two successful proposals were delivered, having secured Arts Council England project funding support. These were ‘Opening the Closet Doors’, an art and film project developed by Sarah Li, and TeesDance’s moveUP programme delivered in partnership with Darlington Hippodrome, which worked with and showcased the creativity of aspiring dancers and choreographers.
As a result we’ve commissioned Helix Arts to deliver a further Flourish programme and are seeking new creative proposals which will benefit the community in Darlington. Helix Arts will provide mentoring to selected applicants, and Darlington Borough Council will allocate those selected £500 for your time for participating. Selected applicants will be expected to develop and submit proposals which will deliver activity and involve people in Darlington, either in part or in their entirety. Creative Darlington budget will be allocated to support these proposals subject to agreement ant to Flourish participants being successful in securing additional funding to take them forward from a source other than Darlington Borough Council.
There’s further information on the latest Flourish call out here:, Flourish – Helix Arts and those interested in applying to the Flourish programme should do so by 9am on Monday 19 June 2023.
We hope Flourish will help you in realizing your ideas for creative programmes which involve people with mentoring from Helix Arts,.
Leadership Skills Days – reminder deadline for applications 26 May 2023
Don’t miss out! As part of the Tees Valley Programme Clore Leadership are still accepting applications for the Leadership Skills Days. If you’re looking to enhance your leadership skills and build a robust toolkit, this is an incredible opportunity that you won’t want to miss. These standalone training days led by Clore Leadership contributors are designed to help you explore different areas of expertise, such as:
Through experiential learning, you’ll be able to dive in and gain practical knowledge that you can apply in your role and cultural practice. You’ll also have to opportunity to connect and network with fellow organisations across the Tees Valley. And don’t forget, this is not just an opportunity for you; please do share this exciting news with your colleagues and wider networks within the Tees Valley cultural sector.
Head over to https://www.cloreleadership.org/tees-valley-leadership-skills-days to find out more and apply for a place today!
Upcoming Leadership Experience Session
The next session in the Leadership Experience series is coming up on 13June 2023, 11.00 – 12.30pm, on Zoom with speaker Jamie Beddard, Joint Artistic Director of Diverse City, and Lead Artist in Extraordinary Bodies. Sign up here to book your place.
These quarterly events are series of facilitated conversations where leaders share their stories and experiences. They will take place on-line or in person and are for people living or working in the cultural sector in the Tees Valley.
If you want to find out more about Clore Leadership place-based leadership interventions for the cultural sector in the Tees Valley – click here.
Festival of Thrift is recruiting for 2 new exciting Producer roles and are keen to get the word out far and wide to reach as many potential candidates as possible and the closing date for applications is Monday 29 May 2023 at midnight.
The new role of Creative Projects Producer will be involved in all aspects of Festival of Thrift’s artistic and creative programme. They will produce festival commissions and co-productions and play a fundamental role in realising our festival and wider programme. Festival of Thrift are looking for someone who is curious about and committed to realising adventurous outdoor performance and projects, who is a dedicated creative collaborator brilliant at making things happen and passionate about sustainability.
The new role of Creative Sustainability Producer is a fantastic opportunity for anyone who is passionate about connecting with people and communities through creative activities and projects that champion sustainability. They will be leading sustainability-focused initiatives, developing inspiring content and creating engaging inclusive experiences for a wide variety of people and ages.
You will find more information and the application pack for both roles here:
https://www.festivalofthrift.co.uk/join-our-team/
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What a pleasure it was to welcome Rider Spoke to South Park in Darlington last week, where the sun shone occasionally and regardless of the weather participants explored a fantastic theatre experience for those aged 16 and over, some on foot some by bike. Rider Spoke touches down at The Palace Hub in Redcar next. I hope you’ll get the chance to enjoy by the coast from 28th – 30th April 2023 if you can. I found Rider Spoke meditative and thought-provoking (hopefully that’s not a contradiction in terms), a very human piece of work involving technology through which you might gain insight into others and to which you could make your own contribution should you wish. Big thanks to Blast Theory and Eden Arts, for bringing Riders Spoke to Darlington.
Colin Chapman bowl with pinched rim
Creative Darlington is delighted to be backing Creative Markets at The Friends Community Hub on Skinnergate in Darlington. The next Darlington Creatives Market is on Saturday 29th July running 11am -2pm with no entry charge. They are normally on the final Saturday of each month, and showcase many different arts and crafts by a wide array of creatives based within or around Darlington. Creative Darlington has supported the creative use of this space in various ways, including the installation of exhibition boards last year.
This time beautiful handmade art work, knitted crafts, seagrass jewelry, natural candles, soaps, wax melts, ceramics and lots more are promised and Darlington Friends invite you to come along, support Darlington based traders and treat yourself!
Check out their new dedicated FB Creatives Market page – live now https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091882593579
Soap and Jam handmade soaps – February 2023
Seagrass Jewellery
Lindsay MacDonald knit works – February 2023
A unique blend of cycling and theatre comes to Darlington giving residents and visitors the chance to take part in this immersive experience
Eden Arts have partnered up with Darlington Borough Council to bring the award winning Blast Theory to South Park Darlington with their unique experience Rider Spoke. Having toured worldwide Eden Arts are delighted to be able to introduce this event to the area. Tickets are available to purchase for the three days the tour visits Darlington on Friday 21st April, Saturday 22nd April and Sunday 23rd April.
You are given the opportunity to listen to other peoples stories, hidden along the route of your choice, while being prompted to share your own. Previous participants have described the experience as ‘contemplative, ‘thought provoking’ and ‘fun’.
If you are not able to ride a bike there are other options making the event fully accessible. You can bring your own bike or turn up and use one provided by Northern Renewables in Redcar, or you can take part on foot or in a wheelchair
This tour will also see Rider Spoke visit Keswick’s Theatre by the Lake 21st-23rd April and to The Palace Hub in Redcar 28th-30th April. Each location offers an entirely different experience from lake shore to park, seaside to town.
Rider Spoke was developed by Brighton based Blast Theory in collaboration with the Mixed Reality Lab and was first was first staged at the Barbican, London. Blast Theory are renowned for creating groundbreaking new forms of performance and interactive media that mixes audiences across the internet, live performance and digital broadcasting.
Rider Spoke is brought to you as part of the #66 project linking regions along the A66, supported by the Arts Council and the local authorities across the region. Curated and managed by Eden Arts the #66 project brings new cultural, digital and sustainable projects to the region, helping to make it the most liveable place in the UK, especially for the under 40s.
This is more than just a bike ride, it’s theatre on a bike. Be ready for the most revealing bike ride you’ll ever have. Across the 28 cities where the work has been shown it has been astonishing to see what people share – sometimes shocking, sometimes very funny, often intimate, and personal.
Additional information and booking:
Rider Spoke is suitable for people aged 16 years and over. With a smartphone attached to your handlebars, set off in search of the perfect place to hide a secret. Guided by narration and a delicate soundtrack, explore back roads and hidden corners in search of personal stories told by people like you from around the world. Take time to reflect on the moments in your own life that mean the most. Then decide whether to leave behind a story of your own.
The work is accessible for people with disabilities including reduced mobility, impaired vision and hearing. Audiences with access needs can take part in a wheelchair, on a mobility scooter, or on foot. Bring your own bike or hop on one loaned by the Northern Renewable Centre, Redcar. We give you a smartphone with the Rider Spoke app already on it and ready to go, so you don’t have to use your own phone or download anything.
The duration of the show for an individual participant is around 75 minutes. There will be 6 tickets available every 30 mins.
Rider Spoke is a cultural treat, environmentally sound, good for mind and body – what inner thoughts do you have as you cycle around the town?
“gloriously enlivening … ” – Metro, five stars
“As soon as it was over, I wanted more.” – ICON Magazine
Rider Spoke Tickets £5 per person. Early bird tickets available with the discount code ‘earlybird’ https://www.edenarts.co.uk/projects/rider-spoke
Theatre by the Lake 14-16 April, 2pm-7pm
South Park, Darlington 21-23 April, 2pm-7pm
The Palace Hub, Redcar 28-30 April, 2pm-7pm
Award Winning Rider Spoke comes to Keswick, Darlington and
Redcar- Listen to heartfelt stories from strangers in this
unique, immersive bike ride
Performed in over 28 countries worldwide, internationally award-winning Rider Spoke is on tour. It has been in Adelaide and ‘gone down a storm’ in Athens. Now Eden Arts are bringing the world-class Rider Spoke to Keswick’s Theatre by the Lake, Darlington’s South Park and to the Palace Hub in Redcar this April.
Rider Spoke is available at South Park, Darlington between 2pm and 7pm from Friday 21 April to Sunday 23 April 2023.
Booking information
Rider Spoke Tickets £5 per person. Early bird tickets available with the discount
code ‘earlybird’
https://www.edenarts.co.uk/projects/rider-spoke
Rider Spoke is suitable for people aged 16 years and over.
The duration of the show for an individual participant is around 75 minutes. There will be 6 tickets available every 30 mins.
Rider Spoke was developed by Brighton based Blast Theory in collaboration with the Mixed Reality Lab and was first was first staged at the Barbican, London. Blast Theory are renowned for creating groundbreaking new forms of performance and interactive media that mixes audiences across the internet, live performance and digital broadcasting.
The work is accessible for people with disabilities including reduced mobility, impaired vision and hearing. Audiences with access needs can take part in a wheelchair, on a mobility scooter, or on foot. Bring your own bike or hop on one loaned by the Northern Renewable Centre, Redcar. We give you a smartphone with the Rider Spoke app already on it and ready to go, so you don’t have to use your own phone or download anything.
This is more than just a bike ride, it’s theatre on a bike. Be ready for the most revealing bike ride you’ll ever have, its been astonishing to see what people share – sometimes shocking, sometimes very funny, often intimate, and personal.
Rider Spoke is brought to you as part of the #66 project linking regions along the A66, supported by Arts Council England and the local authorities across the region. Curated and managed by Eden Arts the #66 project brings new cultural, digital and sustainable projects to the region, helping to make it the most liveable place in the UK, especially for the under 40s.
“What’s special about Rider Spoke is hearing people talk about the everyday joys and struggles they face. And about the things that made them. Taking a ride with no particular destination is a rare freedom to reflect on life and find perspective. We’re excited to see what the landscapes of Keswick, Darlington and Redcar will bring. What stories people will share? And what people will recognise of themselves in the
stories they hear from around the world.”
Nick Tandavanitj, Blast Theory Artist
With a smartphone attached to your handlebars, set off in search of the perfect place to hide a secret. Guided by narration and a delicate soundtrack, explore back roads and hidden corners in search of personal stories told by people like you from around the world. Take time to reflect on the moments in your own life that mean the most. Then decide whether to leave behind a story of your own.
“Loved it! What an interesting and thought provoking event”
“Different to anything we have attended before”
Rider Spoke is a cultural treat, environmentally sound, good for mind and body – what inner thoughts do you have as you cycle around the town?
“gloriously enlivening … ” – Metro, five stars
“As soon as it was over, I wanted more.” – ICON Magazine
Darlington Borough Council is supporting Rider Spoke through Creative Darlington.
