Our History We began life back in 2017 as one of England’s 16 ‘Great Place Schemes’. Jointly funded by Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Scheme was designed to pilot new approaches to local investment in arts, culture and heritage. ​ Northern Heartlands’ ‘great place’ was the south-west corner of County Durham; an area comprising the Area Action Partnership districts of Teesdale and Weardale (rural, isolated villages and hill farms), Bishop Auckland & Shildon, and the ‘Three Towns Partnership’ of Tow Law, Crook and Willington (small towns and surrounding settlements of the former Durham coalfield). Over the three years, projects ranged from small one-off workshops to a major new community opera created with local communities in partnership with Opera North. A small grants scheme supported by County Durham Community Foundation saw 47 projects developed by community groups. Approaches ranged from an innovative 18-month project commissioning an artist/researcher to work with hill-farmers to harness their views and voices, to ethnographic engagement with a cluster of small, neglected settlements in the Dene Valley Parish – once destined for demolition under the infamous Category D scheme when the pits closed – and supporting a major outdoor arts event in the former coal-mining town of Willington where, prior to Northern Heartlands’ engagement and as one young person succinctly put it, “nothing ever happens”. At the end of the Great Place Scheme, it was clear to us that this work had only just begun. Our evaluation revealed that our work had a profound impact on our communities, including: ​ increased pride in the area increased confidence in themselves greater connection to the heritage and culture of the area as well as having a positive impact on health and wellbeing At the end of 2019 we made the decision to establish Northern Heartlands as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in its own right. Going forwards we will continue our work primarily in the south-west corner of County Durham, building on existing relationships with communities as well as striving to forge new ones in order to continue the work we have begun. We Need Your Support Today! Donate

Get in touch 01833 200220 Northern Heartlands, 3 Witham Studios Hall Street, Barnard Castle DL12 8JB First Name Last Name Email Subject Type Your Message Here Send Thanks for submitting! We Need Your Support Today! Donate

Here you can find out all about our current projects. Social Prescribing Hidden Heritage Stories from Ukraine Turning the Hourglass Plants on the Edge Bishop Auckland Heritage Projects Past Projects We Need Your Support Today! Donate

Artist Call Outs Here you will find Artist call outs for projects we are delivering. We have two opportunities available, click the link(s) for further info and how to apply: ​ An opportunity for experienced artists to lead an enquiry-based community engagement programme in Coundon and Witton Park, County Durham Creative Catalysts​ an opportunity for experienced participatory artists to deliver creative sessions as part of our social prescribing activity. Northern Heartlands Social Prescribing Call For Artists ​ ​Call outs are often shared via our mailing list so make you subscribe using the form at the bottom of this page. We Need Your Support Today! Donate

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

Plants on the Edge Back to 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 96, 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. Thank you to our generous Funders: Project Gallery Teesdale's famous Spring Gentian (Gentiana verna) Model of the Spring Gentian by Yrs 3 & 4 at Middleton-in-Teesdale Primary Sugar limestone - a rare geological feature unique to Upper Teesdale Teesdale's famous Spring Gentian (Gentiana verna) 1/7 We Need Your Support Today! Donate

Artists' Space Click on one of the options below to see resources and opportunities for Artists! Artist Call Outs Training Opportunities See creations from previous workshops in the gallery below! 1/15 We Need Your Support Today! Donate

Past Projects Back to projects Here you can find out all about our past projects. Creativity in Crisis Artists' Network Great Place Scheme We Need Your Support Today! Donate

Podcast Brianna & Madison Hosting Inspiring Women

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

hyem fest! Back to Hidden Heritage Thank you to our generous Funders: We Need Your Support Today! Donate

External Evaluator Hidden Heritage and Wellbeing We are delighted to have been awarded funding from National Lottery Heritage Fund for a new project, “Hidden Heritage & Wellbeing”, and we are now seeking an independent evaluator for this project. ​ The project will run from January 2022 to July 2023 and a final monitoring and evaluation report will need to be submitted by August 2023. The project will take place in Willington, County Durham. Key requirements of the role are: An understanding of community heritage and experience of evaluating heritage projects some evidence of understanding health and wellbeing outcomes The fee available for this work is £9,300 (inclusive of VAT and expenses) ​ Deadline for applications is 12.00pm, Monday 14th February 2022 ​ Full details are available here including background information and how to apply. More information We Need Your Support Today! Donate