View resources from the 2021 Artists' Network programme. Home / Opportunities Artists' Network Throughout April - September 2021, Northern Heartlands hosted the County Durham Artists' Network. These weekly, free sessions were a chance to hear from fellow creatives, regional arts organisations and take part in professional training sessions. Below is a collection of presentations that were delivered throughout during our meetings. The Creative Adventurer's Survival Guide East Durham Creates Website Fundamentals for Creatives Teesdale Artist Network Durham County Council Cumbria Arts and Culture Network Beamish Museum Northern Saints Trail Durham 2025: City of Culture Culture Durham Federation of Small Businesses Arts Council England The Network also received a number of training sessions to support the work of artists. These were delivered in a mixture of online and live sessions. Below you can find presentations from some of the training sessions. Website Creation and Development for Creative Practitioners Defining Your Why Finding and Getting funding for Arts Projects Q&A with Arts Council England If you are a creative practitioner and would like to be added to our artists' mailing list, get in touch with other creative practioners or hear about new training or commission opportunities, get in contact by emailing info@northernheartlands.org We Need Your Support Today! Donate Thank you to our generous Funders:

Explore a collection of sample creative briefs, guides and other resources for creative practitioners. Home / Opportunities Examples, toolkits, and more... A sample of recent artist briefs to show how we work and what we look for Read More Take Part in Teesdale Artist Brief Weekly creative sessions for adult in rural Teesdale to support health and wellbeing Read More PLACE Lab Shildon Artist's Residency A project in Shildon over 10 months for young people to celebrate heritage and inspire futures Read More Creatively Connected Artist Brief 2025 Forming part of Tees-Swale: Naturally Connected , this was a programme exploring high nature value farming through creative enquiry Read More PLACE Lab Weardale Artist's Residency A project to increase connection between visibility of the organisations and cultural activities happening in Weardale and to support a sense of pride and identity Read More Check out our guide to writing a proposal Read More Review our Freelancer Policy Read More Take a look at these useful and inspiring links

Explore creative community engagement with Northern Heartlands. We help communities be heard through consultation, co-design and inclusive creative facilitation. Home / What we offer / Community engagement Trusted, creative community engagement - helping you achieve your aims. Since 2017, we’ve been developing and delivering work with communities to co‑design creative activities and participatory events. Our work takes place in the places and spaces that matter to people and with groups connected by shared experiences, places or interests. Our inventive and imaginative methods go beyond the limitations of questionnaires or feedback forms to find out what people genuinely think. We make sure we reach beyond the ‘usual suspects’, involving those with lived experience who can offer valuable expertise, knowledge and understanding. We create opportunities for people to explore the issues that matter to them, using creative and imaginative methods that open up conversations traditional approaches can often miss. Involving people with lived experience is central to how we work, helping make sure a wider range of voices and insights are included. Listening is always our starting point. From there, we shape bespoke creative processes that support meaningful, long-term engagement. The case studies below highlight some of our multi-year partnerships. CASE STUDY Dene Valley Where: The parish of Dene Valley, just outside Bishop Auckland in County Durham is made up of seven former mining villages. When the pits closed, many areas were listed as ‘Category D’ villages and were partially demolished, leaving traces of old terraces still visible in the landscape. Locally, the central stretch of wasteland is known as "The Hollow". Why: Concerns about rising crime prompted a request for support, and Northern Heartlands began a two‑year creative engagement programme. The work brought together local residents with people from organisations such as the police, parish council, the primary school and the local MP. What: We facilitated free outdoor arts sessions in different spots around the parish on allotments, street corners and under a simple awning in The Hollow. Anyone passing by could join in. As people experimented with cyanotypes, wind‑powered sculptures and watercolours, conversations naturally opened up about the area, its history and what people hoped might change. One idea that emerged was a winter lantern parade, which we supported the community to develop and deliver. Participants’ ages ranged from 5 – 65 and the project included 923 active engagements. Outcomes: A community café and a winter lantern parade were established with local support A new community group formed to support families and young people The local MP became actively involved New artwork and signage were created for a community building Residents played a direct role in shaping decisions about their area People said what mattered most were chances for the community to reconnect, improving the local environment and more activities and opportunities for young people. CASE STUDY Creative Health in Bishop Auckland A Creative Health Programme addressing health inequalities through creativity County Durham faces significant health challenges, including high rates of poor mental health and an ageing population. Evidence shows that arts engagement reduces loneliness, lowers risk of depression, and can slow down cognitive decline. Northern Heartlands’ Four Clocks Project, later renamed Bishop Busy Hands, demonstrates how creative practice can be integrated into social prescribing to deliver measurable wellbeing gains. Aim Key outputs To help adults feel more connected, improve mental health, and build wellbeing through creative activity. 2+ years of weekly sessions in Bishop Auckland connecting with 36 individual beneficiaries Participants referred via our relationships with NHS link workers & housing associations Creative outputs: painting, sculpture, textiles, animation, and a co‑authored film Social Value: £122,386 calculated via HACT tool → 14:1 ROI What made it work Empowerment as the group transitioned from NH‑facilitated to independent, self‑led organisation. Cross‑sector collaboration with housing associations, NHS link workers, artists, and health providers who all worked together. Film captured participants’ voices, providing both creative output and evaluation evidence. A modest investment delivering significant social value, proving viability within social prescribing budgets. Outcomes Reduced anxiety and depression, increased confidence, new connections. Improved mood and sense of belonging. Long‑term sustainability as Bishop Busy Hands continues independently, meeting weekly and advocating for creative health. Film used by health providers and funders as a case example of arts‑based social prescribing. Bishop Busy Hands shows how modest investment in creative health can deliver lasting wellbeing, empower communities, and achieve outstanding social value. Get in Touch – clear call‑to‑action with enquiry form and contact details Let’s talk… Let’s explore how our creative approaches can help you connect meaningfully with the people at the heart of your success. Get in touch