Our mission is for flourishing places, where people use creativity to gain confidence, explore what matters, express their views and contribute to society.  Our Mission... ... is to engage and support local people and communities by using creativity to develop agency, build social capital and foster individual potential. Communities and the artists we work with are at the heart of what we do. We know that people are the real experts in where they live, the issues they face and what needs to change, so we always start by listening. We trust in the skills and knowledge of creative practitioners because we have seen the incredible results, both artistically and for the lives of people who take part. We are committed to supporting the careers of artists in our region. The principles that guide us are set out below, with creativity at the heart of what we do. Our process is a circle because we know that change takes time and trust is hard to earn – so we are in it for the long term with the people, places and artists we work with. We are experimental, we are always trying to learn from successes and failures, and we share that learning. We want to extend understanding between people and across sectors. Our Vision OUR VISION is for strong, connected, and healthy communities, where people are actively involved in shaping their lives and their environment. We strive to achieve our Vision and Mission by: Recognising that each place we work in, and each community we work with, is unique Working with creative practitioners in everything we do Ensuring we always work collaboratively with communities Always reviewing, learning from, and adapting our approach and sharing our learning with others Supporting artists and creative practitioners to reach their full potential Working in partnership Our Way of Working Our Values WE WILL BE: COMMITTED to what we do, to each other and to those we work with TRUSTED by each other and by those we work with DIGNIFIED in our own actions and by respecting the dignity of everyone we work with AMBITIOUS for ourselves, for our organisation and the places, the communities, and the individuals we work with AUTHENTIC in all of our actions HUMBLE in respecting and valuing the opinions and beliefs of others Our Way of Working We Need Your Support Today! Donate

A Paul Hamlyn Foundation funded project challenging power structures and enouraging community members to collaborate and work together. Here you can find out all about our current projects. Turning the Hourglass Back to Past Projects “Turning The Hourglass” is funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation ‘Arts Access & Participation Fund’. We’re working with communities in the parish of Dene Valley and the village of Witton Park, listening to what local residents would like to see happen in their village, supporting exciting events such as the Dene Valley Winter Light Parade and a Hallowe’en Walk and enabling people to have the confidence to start making things happen for themselves. Both places are former 'Category D' locations: villages destined for demolition when the pits closed and deemed worthy of no further investment. We started working in Witton Park in 2021 and we've been working with the community in Dene Valley since 2018, building on work we began as a Great Place Scheme. Read about our approach to this work here in a report by artist/researcher Stephen Pritchard. Read the final evaluation report for Turning the Hourglass here. Project Gallery Witton Park: Halloween Story Walk Witton Park: Halloween Story Walk Dene Valley: One Winter's Night Witton Park: Halloween Story Walk 1/39 "Mayhem, Magic & Majesty" Dene Valley & Eldon Lane Festive Light Parade 2022 "One Winter's Night..." Dene Valley & Eldon Lane Festive Light Parade 2021 Thank you to our generous Funders: "One Winter's Night ..." finalist for North East Culture Awards 2022 "Best Event or Exhibition" We Need Your Support Today! Donate

Connected Communities harnesses the power of arts and social prescribing to enhance health, wellbeing, and community resilience across County Durham. Connected Communities Back to projects Cultivate Commissions PlaceLab Pride in Teesdale Setting the Scene We Need Your Support Today! Donate

Northern Heartlands is a community arts organisation based in south west County Durham. We work with the rural and isolated communities of Teesdale and Weardale, and in the towns and villages of the former Durham coalfields around Bishop Auckland, Shildon, Crook, Willington and Tow Law. We believe in the creative power of communities to bring about change. Our Mission Current Projects Our work is made possible by: Our vision is for strong, connected, and healthy local communities, where people are actively involved in shaping their lives and their environment Support Us And help our communities Donate Now Community member "Thank you for making this fab event happen."

Northern Heartlands’ Landscape & Environment strand celebrates the rich natural heritage of south-west County Durham, connecting communities with their surroundings through creative collaboration Landscape and Environment Back to projects Budding Botanists Creatively Connected Cuthbert's Moor We Need Your Support Today! Donate

View current contract opportunities for Artists to work on projects supporting communities in South West County Durham. Artist Call Outs * New Opportunity - PLACE Lab Weardale Wonders* We’re looking for a talented artist or creative team to help showcase the amazing cultural infrastructure of Weardale through a unifying series of artworks. This is your chance to collaborate with local partners and bring Weardale’s creativity and community spirit into the spotlight. More information and all the important details in the brief here: PLACE Lab Weardale Wonders Artist Brief Slides from the Find Out More session, 26th November Deadline for submissions: Friday, 5th December at 12 noon We Need Your Support Today! Donate

A new heritage trail through Bishop Auckland Bishop Auckland heritage Back to Past Projects Bishop Auckland Heritage Trail "On the Map" co-created by textile artist Gillian Arnold with local schools and members of the community BISHOP AUCKLAND HERITAGE TRAIL.pdf CLICK IMAGE FOR BISHOP AUCKLAND HERITAGE TRAIL AUDIO Scan this QR code to find out more about Bishop Auckland history and heritage We Need Your Support Today! Donate

Meet the Northern Heartlands team and our dedicated board who are passionate about the work we do. The Team Jill Cole Director Katy Milne Senior M anager Lyndsey Middleton Creative Communities Coordinator Jayne Bradley Office and Systems Manager The Board Graham Young Chair Jane Hartley Trustee Tony Harrington Trustee Amanda Tutin Trustee Ben Tinkler Trustee Lucy Jenkins Trustee We Need Your Support Today! Donate

View current training opportunities for Artists. Training Opportunities We don't currently have any training opportunities. Visit this site for other opportunities: Create North Throughout 2021, we hosted the County Durham Artists' Network. Click the link below to browse the various presentations that were delivered artists and organisations. Artists' Network We Need Your Support Today! Donate

The mission of Place Lab is to use the power of culture and creativity to catalyse change at local level. This place-based activity is boosting cultural participation and facilitating the exchange of knowledge and connectivity within and between communities; empowering communities to actively engage in decisions shaping the future of their places. PlaceLab Back to Connected Communities Next Project PlaceLab is a county-wide programme using the power of culture and creativity to catalyse change at a local level. We are leading PlaceLab in Shildon and Weardale, with a particular focus on work for children and young people in Shildon. From agricultural shows to cavalcades, we are working with people to build confidence and change how they think about their place. 70% of participants reported an increase in cultural participation 84% of respondents agreed/strongly agreed that they felt more motivated to do more creative things in the future 93% of partner respondents agreed/strongly agreed that they would like to work with Northern Heartlands in the future During 2024-25, PlaceLab Shildon and Weardale has: supported 860 participants to take part supported 19 groups commissioned 19 artists PlaceLab is part of "Into the Light", a transformative programme of creative, collaborative projects across County Durham. We Need Your Support Today! Donate

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

Find out about the diverse range of projects we are currently working on throughout South West County Durham! Strategic Partnerships Back to projects Text needed, images and/or logos We Need Your Support Today! Donate