New vision for visual arts in the North East

A ten-year vision to make the North East of England a centre of excellence for the contemporary visual arts and attract investment into the region was launched by the North East Contemporary Visual Arts Network (NE CVAN) on Friday.

‘Untitled: A Strategic Plan for Visual Arts in North East England’ will drive the visual arts agenda in the region over the next decade, aiming to cement its international reputation.

The plan has been published just days after the announcement that Newcastle-Gateshead will host the Great Exhibition of the North and marks the 20-year anniversary of the Year of Visual Arts, which was hosted in the North East.

The strategy has been drawn up collaboratively by the NE CVAN membership, a network of more than sixty public and private organisations and individuals across the North East.

Sarah Munro, Director of BALTIC Centre Contemporary Art described it as “a dynamic call to action by the visual arts sector in the region to galvanise their ambitions and determine their future collectively”.

The Case for Culture, a 15-year vision for the arts across the North East drawn up last year by the North East Culture Partnership, pointed to gaps in provision and places which required further investment. The visual arts strategy identifies those areas of untapped potential and sets out a series of investment priorities.

Among the specific ambitions is the securing of investment to create major sculpture production facilities by 2025, building on the region’s strong history of making. Plans for artist studios and live/work facilities will be part of a drive to improve sustainability, organisational growth and stability within the sector, as will the establishment of a stronger infrastructure to support and nurture talent.

To support artists’ progression, a professional practice toolkit will be developed for final year students entering the sector, and residencies and fellowships for artists, curators and writers will be offered by the NE CVAN membership.

To raise the profile of the work in the region, an “internationally ambitious” visual arts programme will be developed to support bids for the UK City of Culture in Sunderland in 2021, and in Teeside in 2025.

Other initiatives will include:

• a new International Visual Arts Festival on Tyneside by 2019
• new contemporary collections developed by the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, Sunderland and the National Glass Centre
• an online Art Map to encourage locals and visitors to explore the contemporary visual arts offering in the area
• strategic press and collaborative networking with tourism boards, ambassador networks and cultural organisations on a regional, national and international scale.

Community engagement initiatives will aim to stimulate public engagement and reach new and hard-to-reach audiences among the diverse communities in the region.

John Mowbray OBE, Co-Chairman of the North East Cultural Partnership, said: “Last year, the Case for Culture was launched in the region and nationally, outlining our vision for culture over the next fifteen years with a call to action to all to help the region meet our ambitions. The visual arts has risen to that challenge, with an exciting vision for the future that will contribute greatly to the aspirations of the Case for Culture and most importantly the North East’s international reach and profile.”