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.

What can we discover when we really listen?💧 Earlier this month we brought people together at The Witham in Barnard Cast...
18/08/2026

What can we discover when we really listen?💧

Earlier this month we brought people together at The Witham in Barnard Castle for a creative workshop exploring our relationship with water and the River Tees.

Led by artists David de la Haye and Matt Denham, the session invited volunteers from The Witham to share their stories and memories of water in Teesdale and notice some of the sounds that we might typically miss.

Using specialist microphones and hydrophones, we explored everything from footsteps in the water to birds, insects and the hidden ‘popping’ sounds beneath the surface of the River Tees.
One participant reflected that the experience “changed their perspective”, a lovely reminder that sometimes simply stopping and listening can help us see a familiar place differently.

The workshop is part of our developing work with the Centre for Joined Up Sustainability Transformations (JUST) and The Tees Rivers Trust, exploring people's connections with water, the stories and knowledge held within our communities, and what our relationship with water might look like in the future.

These conversations continue across Teesdale over the next couple of months.

What a brilliant evening in Shildon! ⭐Last weekend, ‘Our Turn’ took to the stage at Shildon Railway Institute – a live t...
12/08/2026

What a brilliant evening in Shildon! ⭐

Last weekend, ‘Our Turn’ took to the stage at Shildon Railway Institute – a live theatre piece created and developed by young people in Shildon, led by the brilliant Victoria Melody as part of PLACE Lab Shildon.

The young people did an incredible job, both performing and supporting each other, some stepping onto a stage for the very first time. ⭐ There were tears and laughter in equal measure from family and audience members, and it was inspiring to hear young people connecting with Shildon’s heritage, celebrating their community and sharing their hopes for its future.

And what better place to do it than Shildon Railway Institute – the oldest railway institute in the world!

We were delighted to see such a fantastic turnout from the community, alongside local decision makers and MP Sam Rushworth, MP for Bishop Auckland, all there to support and listen to what Shildon’s young people had to say.

The audience described it as ‘uplifting’, ‘inspiring’, ‘entertaining’ and ‘thoughtful’. One comment summed up the importance of putting young people at the heart of the project perfectly: “The future is theirs to shape.”

A huge thanks to Vic Melody and her creative team: Tom Parkinson Faith Dodkins and Fay Turner. Also thanks to our filmmaker Ollie Smith and everyone in Shildon who supported the project and, most importantly, the brilliant young people who made ‘Our Turn’ what it was.

There’s more to come too. A film of the show and a documentary style film celebrating the wider project will be shared at Jubilee Fields Community Centre alongside a Q&A with the young people in early September.

PLACE Lab Shildon is part of Into the Light, Durham’s Place Partnership Programme.

With thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Heritage Places and Arts Council England for supporting and prioritising this work.

PLACE Lab Shildon is led by Northern Heartlands. PLACE Lab is part of the Light – a transformative Place Partnership programme funded by Arts Council England, using the power of culture and creativity to catalyse change across County Durham.

PLACE Lab Shildon is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to explore and celebrate the heritage and lived experiences of Shildon through creative storytelling and community collaboration.

As Durham Champions, we all have a part to play in sharing and showing why Durham is such a special place to live, wor...
11/08/2026

As Durham Champions, we all have a part to play in sharing and showing why Durham is such a special place to live, work, visit, create and connect. 💛

Our programmes at Northern Heartlands involve bringing together artists, communities and partners in their own spaces and places through creative and arts consultation, engagement, activity and events.

Last year, in 2025, we worked in over 32 different locations and venues across the North, including many of the wonderful communities across County Durham, creating opportunities for people to connect, share stories and explore what matters to them.

By working alongside communities, we use creativity to celebrate local identity, uncover hidden stories and help shape the future of the places people call home.

For us, this is part of connected communities, creativity and a strong sense of place, all contributing to what makes Durham a place to live, work, visit and invest in.



You can find out about the work we do by visiting our website https://www.northernheartlands.org/

Come along and support the amazing young people behind OUR TURN a brand new theatre performance created in Shildon.Inspi...
04/08/2026

Come along and support the amazing young people behind OUR TURN a brand new theatre performance created in Shildon.

Inspired by the town's past and the people who call it home, the show explores what community means today through stories, humour and the ideas of local young people.

📅 This Saturday, 8 August at 7pm at Shildon Railway Institute DL4 2JJ

Created by the Heard Not Hushed Collective as part of PLACE Lab Shildon, supported by Northern Heartlands and led by artist Victoria Melody

Tickets are going quickly, so if you'd like to come along, book your free place here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1995458491063

PLACE Lab Shildon is part of Into the Light Durham's Place Partnership Programme, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England.

Shildon Town Council Shildon Railway Institute Alive

Join us later this month on Monday 17th August at Bowlees Visitor Centre for 'If the River Could Speak' a free creative ...
04/08/2026

Join us later this month on Monday 17th August at Bowlees Visitor Centre for 'If the River Could Speak' a free creative workshop where we’ll slow down, listen, and explore our connection to water in Teesdale.

Led by artists David de la Haye and Matt Denham you’ll experience water in a different way, including a guided riverside listening session using hydrophones (underwater microphones) to hear the hidden sounds beneath the surface.

Afterwards, you’ll take part in relaxed creative activities and conversations inspired by the rivers, reservoirs and other bodies of water across Teesdale, before exploring the Creatively Connected exhibition, part of the wider Tees-Swale: Naturally Connected partnership.

This workshop is part of Waterlines, a creative research project exploring how people connect with water, how these places are changing, and why they matter to us.

Whether you’ve lived in Teesdale all your life or simply enjoy spending time by the River Tees or any of the reservoirs in the area we’d love for you to come along and take part!

Two free sessions are available:

10am–12pm

2pm–4pm

The workshop is primarily aimed at adults and older young people. Younger children are welcome if accompanied by an adult and happy to take part in the listening experience, conversations and creative activities.

🎟️ Places are free but limited so booking is essential:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/if-the-river-could-speak-creative-activity-tickets-1993925296236

Please wear suitable clothing and sturdy footwear, as part of the experience may take place outdoors on uneven terrain.

This work is made possible by the Centre for Joined up Sustainability Transformations (JUST) at Newcastle University, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. With thanks to North Pennines National Landscape for their support. Visit Bowlees

This August, discover the Creatively Connected exhibition at Bowlees Visitor Centre.From September 2024 to October 2025,...
31/07/2026

This August, discover the Creatively Connected exhibition at Bowlees Visitor Centre.

From September 2024 to October 2025, five artists spent time in conversation with farmers, conservationists and communities across Teesdale and Swaledale.

Together they explored the relationship between farming and nature, reflecting on what it means today and how it might look, sound and feel in the future.

The work on display at Bowles Visitor Centre is the result of that shared enquiry – creative responses shaped through listening, exploring and working alongside the people who know and care for these landscapes.

The exhibition runs from Friday 7 August to Wednesday 2 September 2026.

Find out more: https://northpennines.org.uk/creatively-connected-exhibition/

Creatively Connected is produced by Northern Heartlands as part of Tees-Swale: naturally connected, a programme led by North Pennines National Landscape in partnership with Yorkshire Dales National Park . The artists involved in the exhibition are , Matt Denham , John Coburn and Tim Shaw. The work is made possible with funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund , thanks to National Lottery players, and supported by Arts Council England .

📢Shildon -let's come together to support our young people 📢Join us for a brilliant new theatre performance inspired by t...
30/07/2026

📢Shildon -let's come together to support our young people 📢

Join us for a brilliant new theatre performance inspired by the people of Shildon.

The Heard not Hushed Collective presents:

🎭OUR TURN
📅 Saturday, 8th August
🕧19:00
📌Shildon Railway Institute, DL4 2JJ
🪙

Inspired by Shildon’s past, young people set out to discover what community really means. Along the way they uncover extraordinary stories, awkward questions, plenty of laughs and a surprising amount of hope. OUR TURN celebrates the potential of young people to shape the future of our community.

The Heard Not Hushed Collective present this new theatre show created as part of PLACE Lab Shildon, supported by Northern Heartlands and led by artist Victoria Melody.

Tickets are going fast so don't miss out! Book your ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1995458491063?aff=oddtdtcreator

PLACE Lab Shildon is part of Into the Light, Durham's Place Partnership Programme funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England
Shildon Town Council Shildon Railway Institute Shildon Alive

Last Friday we visited Sarah and Colin from The Wiggly Path Company at Harehope Quarry in Weardale.Sarah and Colin use ...
24/07/2026

Last Friday we visited Sarah and Colin from The Wiggly Path Company at Harehope Quarry in Weardale.

Sarah and Colin use traditional skills such as weaving, stitching, whittling and carving to explore our relationships with the materials and natural environment around us. Their practice considers where materials, fabrics and dyes come from, how they are used and the impact they can have on people and the wider world.

At Northern Heartlands, we believe the most meaningful change happens when artists and communities work together. People like Sarah and Colin and places like Harehope Quarry show what's possible when creativity, local knowledge and care for the environment come together to create opportunities for people to connect, learn and thrive. 🌿

It was a privilege to spend time with Sarah and Colin, learn more about their inspiring work and explore how, by working alongside artists, communities and places, we can continue to imagine and shape positive futures together.

A couple of weeks ago our Creative Director Katy Milne visited the Youth Voice Art Exhibition at T C R The Hub created...
22/07/2026

A couple of weeks ago our Creative Director Katy Milne visited the Youth Voice Art Exhibition at T C R The Hub created by young people as part of a Community Research project funded through the Rural Durham Community Research Network.

Through artwork, stories and research, the exhibition explored what it's like to be a young person navigating public transport in rural Teesdale. It highlighted how limited services and difficult timetables can affect everyday life, from seeing friends and accessing activities to feeling connected to place.

The exhibition was a reminder that transport isn't just about getting from A to B. It's about access to opportunity, independence, connection and belonging.

We know that when young people are given the space to share their experiences creatively, they offer perspectives that deserve to be heard. Thank you for the invitation to come long and well done to everyone involved for creating such a thoughtful exhibition.

The North East Mayoral Combined Authority. is currently consulting on the future of transport across our region.

If you'd like to have your say, you can take part here:
https://www.northeast-ca.gov.uk/consultations/haveyoursa

A few weeks ago, our Creative Director, Katy Milne took part in a Refugee Week printmaking workshop in Darlington as par...
16/07/2026

A few weeks ago, our Creative Director, Katy Milne took part in a Refugee Week printmaking workshop in Darlington as part of Connected Communities: Stories and Cultural Practices, led by Professor Azadeh Fatehrad and the Institute for Collective Place Leadership at Teesside University.

Working alongside people who have made the North East their home from all over the world, the workshop explored identity and belonging through the creation of a collective screen printed banner.

Katy also visited the Arthur Wharton exhibition at Hopetown Darlington , a reminder that diversity has long shaped our region's story and continues to do so today.

Experiences like these remind us that creativity can help build understanding, strengthen belonging and bring communities together - values that sit at the heart of Northern Heartlands' work.

It was such inspiring activity to attend. Well done to everyone involved in organising such an uplifting day.

Professor Institute for Collective Place LeadershipTeesside University Creative Darlington Darlington Assistance for Refugees

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