One-Off Events in the North East
Hosting a free event? We’ll list it for free, get in touch.
Selling tickets? We’ll list your event in exchange for a donation.
Crowdfund Sunderland - Free February Workshop
- Washington Millennium Centre, Saturday 15th February 2020, 7pm - 9pm. Free.
BBC Radio 4 - "Any Questions?" Live Broadcast
A panel of personalities from the worlds of politics, media and elsewhere will be posed questions by the live audience.
- Sir Tom Cowie Lecture Theatre, University of Sunderland St. Peter's Campus - Monday 24th February, 6:45pm - 9pm. Free, but you must book in advance.
Cyanotype Printmaking Alternative Photography with Jo Howell
“Photographic artist Jo Howell will teach you how to mix cyanotype chemicals, how to prepare your paper, how to expose the image, and, how to correctly wash and store your print. Using UV lamps to create an image, each participant should have enough time to create at least 2 finished prints on watercolour paper.”
- Jo Howell’s Studio, Unit 1, Wickham Street, Roker, Sunderland, SR6 0EB. - Tuesday 25th February 2020, 6pm - 8pm. £27.54.
ArtyParti Celebration #3 - Mindfulness, Health & Wellbeing - "Looking after your wellbeing as an artist."
- Fire Station (upstairs in the Heritage Centre), Sunderland - Saturday 29th February 2020, 1pm - 5pm. Free, with optional donation.
Learn the Ancient Indonesian Art Form of Batik, at MBC Arts Wellbeing CIC
”Working with our talented artist Nicola, you will get the chance to create your own beautiful patterned fabric using hot waxes and magnificent dyes.”
- MBC Arts Wellbeing CIC, Thursday 5th March 2020, 10am - 12:30pm. Free, but book tickets in advance.
Goal Setting and Planning for Creative Practitioners
Join Sunderland Culture on this three-week short course, led by senior arts leader, freelance management consultant and trainer Susanne Burns, on managing yourself as an artist – culminating in the development of your own personal business plan.
- National Glass Centre, Sunderland - Thursdays 5th & 19th March 2020, and Thursday 9th April 2020. Free.
Co-Working and Artist Surgery Day - with Sunderland Culture
“Join us for a co-working day, which is a chance meet with creative practitioners, freelancers and arts workers from across Wearside. There is no agenda, just a chance to chat, take advantage of the desk space and the free wifi without worrying about moving on. You can also use the space for informal meetings.”
- Norfolk Street Arts, 29 Norfolk Street - Wednesday 18th March 2020, 10am - 4pm. Free.
Sunderland Creative SOUP - Micro-Crowdfunding Competition ran by Sunderland Culture
- Pop Recs, 27 Stockton Road, Sunderland - 19th March 2020, 7pm. £4.
Weekly / Regular Events
Hosting regular free events? We’ll list them for free, get in touch.
Selling tickets? We’ll list your event in exchange for a donation.
Mondays:
Tune into ArtyParti's live broadcast on Spark - 11am-12pm. Every Monday, conversations with different artists / creatives about their practice, from a range of different disciplines (fine art, writing, music, poetry, filmmaking, glass and ceramics, etc.)
Wednesdays:
Holmeside Writers - a gathering of writers from various writing mediums and skill levels (open to all).
- Every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month, held at Holmeside Coffee (in the Museum & Winter Gardens), Sunderland, 6pm - 9pm. Free.
Thursdays:
Speakeasy at the Harbour View - join them for live music performed by local musicians & groups.
Including George Shovelin, the Emma Wilson Trio, the Sour Mash Trio, and Paul Crowley.
- Harbour View in Roker, SR6 0NU - Thursdays, 8pm. Free.
Fridays:
Artist Denise Dowdeswell offers free arts classes in the Frederick Street Gallery, Sunniside, Sunderland, every Friday and Saturday.
Contact DeniseDowdeswell123@gmail.com for more info, or to reserve a place.
“Films for a Change” - Always free, always life changing. For details, contact Chris: Chaplain@Sunderland.ac.uk
Upcoming films include Zama, The Club, The Mission, Woman at War, and The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel and Pie Society.
- Cinema at the David Puttnam Media Centre, University of Sunderland, St. Peter’s Campus, SR6 0DD - Fridays, 5:15pm. Free.
Saturdays:
Artist Denise Dowdeswell offers free arts classes in the Frederick Street Gallery, Sunniside, Sunderland, every Friday and Saturday.
Contact DeniseDowdeswell123@gmail.com for more info, or to reserve a place.
Chilled Creative Café by Solo Arts CIC. Saturdays, fortnightly.
“We're trying out a new regular event - an informal, low-key, low-energy gathering of artists. No pressure to "network", no need to present. Just a space to come, chill, drink coffee, eat cake, and crack on with your art. A place to escape, and unwind. You know, just feel comfortable.”
- Pop Recs, 27 Stockton Road, Sunderland - Saturday 15th of February. Fortnightly Saturday 1st March 2020. 1pm-4pm. Free, with optional donation.
Online Resources
ArtWorks-U Networking and Support for Participatory Artists
A Facebook community & monthly meeting group of artists based in the North East. Join them monthly for free soup and sandwiches, to share projects and ideas, and to network with other artists who work in participatory settings in the area.
AudioUK - The Audio Producers’ Association
As the trade association representing UK audio production companies, AudioUK exists to help grow and promote the UK audio production sector, both at home and abroad. AudioUK works to ensure that, now and in the future, the sector has the skills, and the regulatory and business environment, to maximise its potential as a world leader in this market.
Hey Art, What’s Good?
A weekly arts discussion podcast based in the North East, where the two hosts ask “Hey Art, What’s Good?”. They believes that art should be inclusive and not exclusive - “Too many times we have felt that artwork and art institutions are inaccessible to the masses and we want to help change that. Art should be for all: classless, without preference of gender, sexuality or race.”
North East Theatre Practitioners
A group for people involved in theatre across the North East. You'll occasionally find casting opportunities, as well as discussions about topics affecting local theatre.
Sunderland Artists Forum
A gathering of artists across various disciplines, who live or work in Sunderland. Consider this a place to go to ask questions, promote artistic events / projects, and join wider conversations about the arts.
Sunderland Events and Promotion - Facebook Group
A place where people to post about events in Sunderland (not just arts / creative events).
Tyne and Wear Cultural Freelancers
Yet another Facebook collective - this again is a wider group for people across the North East who freelance in the cultural sector.
Writers Online
“Helping you become a better writer.”
Open Competitions & Opportunities
“All Inclusive” by Regeneration NE CIC"
Regeneration N.E. is offering 12 new & emerging artists the opportunity to work with arts professionals who identify as being Disabled. This group will gain important skills, knowledge and experiences to improve their CVs, make future choices about their potential careers in the Creative Industries, and aims to demonstrate how to make your artwork and exhibitions more accessible for everybody.
BBC National Short Story Award
One of the most prestigious awards for a single short story, with the winning author receiving £15,000, and four further shortlisted authors £600 each. The stories are broadcast on Radio 4, and published in an anthology. Open for submission until 9am, Monday 9th March 2020.
Customs House - Writer in Residence
“Each year The Customs House is taken over by emerging artists and arts professionals aged up to 25 years of age for a week of theatre, cinema, music, dance, poetry, hip hop and visual art.” This year, they’re accepting entrants from young emerging playwrights - “we are seeking submissions which has young people’s voices at its heart, and a narrative that is firmly rooted in the north east.” The deadline for submissions is Monday 16 March at 5.00pm
London Lovecraft Festival Playwriting Competition
30-50 minute plays inspired by the work of H.P. Lovecraft. Open for submission until midnight on 1st March 2020.
Make More Stuff
An independent craft collective founded by Carley Batley and Sean Mort in April 2016 to showcase and support the craft scene in Leeds, the North and beyond. Want a stall? They've an upcoming event at the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead, on the weekend of 21st & 22nd March 2020. Table hire is £10.
Arts & Creative Organisations
Arts and Health Network North East
A North East network for arts, culture and health professionals, services and organisations to share knowledge, create resources, & start conversations.
Regeneration NE CIC
A disability-led Arts organisation which uses creative interventions to support people’s physical and mental wellbeing.
Spotlight UK
No advertisers, no paid content, no BS. Spotlight is a fully independent multimedia platform for writers to cover emerging music across the region and beyond - and a platform for emerging musicians to reach new audiences.