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Our work Supporting creative practice Prev Next Cultivate commissions Delivered in partnership with No More Nowt, Cultivate Commissions supported creative practitioners to work with communities in County Durham to increase participation in arts activity, develop creativity and instil pride within communities. The goal of Cultivate Commissions was to develop creative growth in the county. Project impact 20 artists/arts organisations received a commission. 2273 people directly took part in activity 12,608 people engaged with the project. Outcomes included: Strengthened networks and partnerships, Increased creative practitioner and community confidence Increased participation in the arts 7 further artist commissions secured and 4 new groups established Read the full report on Cultivate Commissions here . Cultivate Commissions is part of Into the Light , a transformative programme of creative, collaborative projects across County Durham. Previous Next

Our work Connected communities Prev Next Pride in Teesdale In 2024/25 we worked in partnership to deliver Pride in Teesdale. The programme of arts events and activities brought communities together to celebrate LGBTQIA+ culture and diversity and increase visibility in deeply rural communities across Teesdale. The programme was led by YMCA Teesdale and included Curious Arts, Northern Heartlands, TCR Hub, The Bowes Museum and The Witham. 837 attendees engagaged in activities including ceilidhs, an exhibition, creative workshops and a film programme 14 events were delivered across 6 community and cultural venues in Teesdale The programme included 2 development and training events for artists and cultural/community sector workers The programme suppported the development of a new partnership Previous Next

Our work Creative health Prev Next The i:d project The I:D Project brought artists and young people together to explore identity, sense of place, and encourage curiosity with the aim of improving wellbeing. We worked with students from Teesdale School & Sixth Form and with young people from TCR Hub and UTASS.Activity included visual art and spoken word workshops with artist Lizzie Lovejoy , visits to Grassholme Observatory and a pop-up camera obscura residency with photographer Elaine Vizor . Project impact 390 young people from Teesdale took part 71% agreed "this activity has given me space to explore my own ideas" 68% agreed "using creative writing/photography/drawing has helped me to express my ideas" A booklet was created containing artwork and poems by young people providing a tool for future work Previous Next

Between May 2021 and June 2022 we ran a social prescribing project called ‘NOW’ - a programme of activities helping to support those living with anxiety, depression, loneliness or mental health issues. It was funded by the National Academy for Social Prescribing and Arts Council England’s pioneering ‘Thriving Communities Fund Thriving Communities Back to Past Projects Between May 2021 and June 2022 we ran a social prescribing project called ‘NOW’ - a programme of activities helping to support those living with anxiety, depression, loneliness or mental health issues. It was funded by the National Academy for Social Prescribing and Arts Council England’s pioneering ‘Thriving Communities Fund' We worked with three delivery partners: Jack Drum Arts , TCR The Hub and UTASS. Over the course of the programme, our partners delivered more than 130 activity sessions including canoeing, nature walks, dancing, filmmaking, creative writing, arts, and crafts, helping with community events and sometimes just getting together for a cup of tea and chat. Read the full evaluation report here. What is Social Prescribing? Find out here Project Gallery UTASS UTASS Jack Drum Arts UTASS 1/21 Thank you to our generous Funders:

Our work Landscape & environment Prev Next Budding Botanists We engaged 2 photographers and a sound artist to work with primary school children, their families and the Teesdale Special Flora Trust. The project explored the rare and unique flora of Upper Teesdale – The Teesdale Assemblage – to understand the environmental factors and challenges affecting its existence. Artists: Louise Taylor , Nat Wilkins , David de la Haye Over 80 school children across 4 Teesdale Primary Schools took part in site visits to Cow Green reservoir, photography and sound workshops The project culminated in ‘Fabulous Flora!’, an exhibition of students’ creative responses, at The Witham, Barnard Castle. Artwork included photography, sound compositions, cyanotype prints and zines making (small magazines) Previous Next

Our work Landscape & environment Prev Next Creatively Connected We were the Creative Producer for Creatively Connected - a programme exploring high nature value farming through artistic enquiry. The programme is part of Tees-Swale:Naturally Connected, a 5-year nature recovery programme managed by North Pennines National Landscape and Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority . Key elements included: bringing farmers, residents, landowners, ecologists, conservationists together through creative enquiry exploring challenging concepts, combining different perspectives and amplifying nature recovery activity. evidencing the value of arts and artists in non-arts settings culminating in a dynamic knowledge-sharing event in September 2025 Read the full evaluation report here: The Creatively Connected Team The Creatively Connected project commissioned 5 artists (two working together) to develop a process of creative enquiry in response to the issues of nature recovery and high nature value farming. The project included engagement with community and farmers, with each artist responding to a particular area of focus within the context of nature recovery. The artists worked individually but also shared approaches to their work throughout the project. Select an image below to find out more about each artist. John Coburn - Artist (working with Tim Shaw) Tim Shaw Matt Denham - Artist Azadeh Fatehrad - Artist Laura Harrington - Artist Previous Next

We began life as a National Lottery Heritage Fund Great Place Scheme in 2017. Since then, we have become a registered charity with Charitable Incorporated Organisation status and an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. About us / Our story / Our story How it all began Northern Heartlands was founded in 2017 as one of England’s 16 pioneering Great Place Schemes—an ambitious initiative funded jointly by Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund . The goal? To explore new ways of investing in arts, culture, and heritage at a local level. Our “great place” was the south-west corner of County Durham, covering: Teesdale and Weardale – rural, isolated villages and hill farms Bishop Auckland & Shildon The former coalfield communities of Tow Law, Crook, and Willington 2017–2020 The Great Place Years Over three years, we delivered a diverse range of projects from small, one-off workshops to a major community opera co-created with local people and Opera North “Song of Our Heartland”. We delivered a small grants scheme funding 47 community-led projects, supported by County Durham Community Foundation, now known as Point North Innovative approaches, including: An 18-month artist/researcher residency with hill-farmers to amplify rural voices Ethnographic engagement with settlements in Dene Valley Parish—once marked for demolition under the Category D scheme A large-scale outdoor arts event (The Man Engine) in Willington, where, as one young person put it, “nothing ever happens” “You brought what I think was a broken community back together - I have never felt so proud in my life” Local resident, The Man Engine event Impact that lasts Our evaluation revealed profound benefits for local communities: Greater pride in the area Increased confidence among individuals Stronger connections to heritage and culture Positive effects on health and wellbeing Read our Evaluation Report Becoming a charity Building trust and relationships with communities and genuinely collaborating takes time - and as the Great Place Scheme drew to a close it became very clear that our work had in many ways only just begun. So we established Northern Heartlands as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) to build on the work and expand our mission. Looking ahead We remain committed to working in County Durham — building on strong community relationships and forging new ones. Our aim is simple: to keep culture and creativity at the heart of local life. And with years of experience and knowledge behind us we are now well-placed to extend our work further afield, both regionally and nationally. Be part of our journey. Join us on our journey Donate Partner More about us... Our mission Our team Our story Our impact

In the rush of everyday work, meaningful teamwork can slip under pressure. Our creative approach to team development creates space to pause, reset, and build deeper understanding—helping teams feel more connected, motivated, and effective. Home / What we offer / Team development Stronger teams start with time to reflect, reconnect, and collaborate. In the rush of the day-to-day, meaningful teamwork can slip under pressure. Our creative approach to team development creates space to pause, reset, and build deeper understanding - helping teams feel more connected, motivated, and effective. Through our programmes we have supported organisations to strengthen cooperation, build confidence, and unlock potential within their teams. We use participatory and engaging methods that encourage trust, creativity and shared problem‑solving, enabling people to learn from one another and grow together. We help teams harness the skills, knowledge and insight already present in their workplaces for improved results. CASE STUDY North Peninnes National Landscape Whole organisation development. Why: Much of the work undertaken by staff within the North Pennines National Landscape team is project-based. Whilst most projects are landscape-scale, multi-year environmental programmes, there is little interaction between staff working on different projects, and core staff rarely have the chance to learn about the day-to-day work of project team members. What happened: Working closely with the commissioning body (NPNL) we designed a team development session that would ensure that the whole organisation would be more aware of one particular strand of work that the organisation was leading on. All staff were invited to attend a creative team development morning - with lunch included. The session was held off site, avoiding any distractions or interruptions and all staff were given the opportunity to attend, from senior management to the finance team as well as environmental specialists and trainees. Outcomes: Staff gained a clearer understanding of the featured programme and how it connects to the wider organisational mission. Increased interaction between teams who rarely have the chance to work together. Stronger sense of shared purpose across project teams, core staff and senior leadership. A more connected organisational culture, with staff reporting greater appreciation of each other’s work. 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

Our work Landscape & environment Prev Next Cuthbert's Moor Cuthbert’s Moor is an area of peatland, heath and grassland habitats that support birds including lapwing, snipe, redshank, curlew and golden plover, short-eared owl and black grouse, all species which are declining nationally due to changes in land use. This site in Teesdale, County Durham lies within the North Pennines National Landscape boundary and is a Site of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI). Working in partnership with Durham Wildlife Trust, we engaged an artist to work with a community group and secondary school students to explore environmental challenges and the critical role of peatlands in the UK's ecosystem. Project impact 6 Felting sessions with UTASS, Middleton-in-Teesdale and with students from Teesdale School took place with artist Claire Priestley Over 40 Participants explored ideas about the importance of the peat and environmental factors 2 collaborative artworks were created in response by participants using wet felting techniques and needle felt. Artwork was exhibited at Teesdale School in 2024 and at Bowlees Visitor Centre in 2025. Previous Next

Listen to a Q&A with Gez Casey from the Arts Council about funding applications. Q&A with ACE Back to past projects Q&A with Gez Casey 00:00 / 40:18 Back to the Artists' Network Click below to listen to the Q&A with Gez Casey from the Arts Council about how to write a successful funding application. We Need Your Support Today! Donate

A Heritage Fund project exploring the history of Willington in County Durham and encouraging local people to connect with their heritage. Hidden Heritage and wellbeing Back to Past Projects Hyem Fest! Over the course of a year spanning 2022-23, we worked with the community in the former mining town of Willington – building on our previous event The Man Engine – helping schools, community groups and care home residents explore the story of their town from medieval times to the present day. The whole project culminated in an exciting event on the Town Green and the information gathered from feedback indicated that wellbeing increased for those who take part, as well as a wider group of people inspired by heritage. We started with 70 volunteers helping to celebrate the beacon lighting as part of the Platinum Jubilee back in June 2022 and ended with Hyem Fest! in July 2023. Read the Hidden Heritage & Wellbeing report by University of Birmingham here Visit the website dedicated to Hidden Heritage here . Hidden Heritage and Hyem Fest! Play Video Play Video 03:16 Time Detectives The "Time Detectives" took the children of 5 primary schools in Willington and surround area on a whistle-stop tour through history to help the Detectives find their way back to the rightful place in time in the distant future. On the way, the children discovered more about where they live and what it means to them. Play Video Play Video 02:25 Pathways through Time - Print Workshop As part of our Hidden Heritage & Wellbeing project in Willington, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, we hosted a series of print workshops with professional Artist, Sara Cox. Participants were encouraged to think about the journeys they take in the place where they live then represent these using simple printing techniques onto a canvas bag. The process gave an opportunity for participants to consider their place from a different perspective, thinking about what's important or meaningful about it and how it makes them feel. Play Video Play Video 02:59 Pathways through Time - Animation As part of our Hidden Heritage & Wellbeing project in Willington, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, we hosted a series of animation workshops with professional Artist, Sherly Jenkins. Participants were encouraged and supported to think about their place and its heritage, and the effect of both on their wellbeing, using story-telling through animation to express their thoughts and ideas. Play Video Play Video 02:27 Getting Ready for the Hyem Fest! Parade Hear all about what the primary school children in Willington and surrounding villages have been doing to prepare for the Hyem Fest! parade on Saturday, 15th July in Willington. Play Video Play Video 05:47 Hyem Fest! Turtley Willington Hyem Fest! in Willington on Saturday, 15th July 2023. Despite unpredictable weather (it rained a lot!!), "Turtley Willy" received a warm welcome from the people of Willington on the Town Green and had a fantastic time in the parade with the Time Detectives, school children from Hunwick Primary, Our Lady & St Thomas' Primary, St Stephen's Primary, Sunnybrow Primary and Willington Primary, community members, dancers from the Sandra Welsh School of Dance and New Brancepeth Revellers. The Time Detectives Time Detective Jo in action Crowd at Hyem Fest The Time Detectives 1/13 Thank you to our generous Funders:

A partnership between Northern Heartlands and Teesdale Special Flora Trust funded by the Governments Green Recovery Challenge Fund through National Lottery Heritage Fund. Plants on the edge Back to Past Projects During 2022-2023 we partnered with Teesdale Special Flora Trust in this exciting project funded by the government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund through the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Trust was set up to continue the work of the inspiring and renowned botanist Dr Margaret Bradshaw who, at the age of 98 (in 2024), still leads walks, oversees monitoring and surveying activity and gives talks on the ‘Teesdale Assemblage’ – a collection of rare alpine plants unique to Upper Teesdale and threatened with decline as a result of climate change. The project included schools workshops, a series of public talks and a touring exhibition. Find out more about Plants on the Edge here Project Gallery Teesdale's famous Spring Gentian (Gentiana verna) Model of the Spring Gentian by Yrs 3 & 4 at Middleton-in-Teesdale Primary Archaeology and botany walk in Upper Teesdale Teesdale's famous Spring Gentian (Gentiana verna) 1/7 Thank you to our generous Funders: