1+ day, 10+ hour ago  (1354+ words) It's 10 years since Shelagh Stephenson took a plaque on Tynemouth Front Street and turned it into a sparkling, funny play called Harriet Martineau Dreams of Dancing. Martineau, a writer who campaigned against slavery and for women's rights, came to Tynemouth…...

2+ day, 23+ hour ago  (769+ words) Welcome to this week's Cultured. On Sunday. There's plenty to get stuck into this week, from hands-on creativity at BALTIC to stories that look both forward and back. David Whetstone previews an exhibition that invites visitors to take part, while…...

3+ day, 8+ hour ago  (316+ words) You may be imagining a principled and dedicated teacher reading lots of books in search of offending material but of course the person doing the banning wasn't actually doing the reading and apparently just asked an AI chatbot which books…...

3+ day, 14+ hour ago  (400+ words) But experience forced a rethink. "After being made redundant in previous roles, I realised that stability isn't always what it seems," she explains. "At that point, taking the risk to go freelance didn't feel as risky anymore." Her ability to…...

4+ day, 11+ hour ago  (434+ words) It's 20 years since Newcastle and Gateshead hosted the third World Summit on Arts and Culture for the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA). It saw 500 delegates from 77 countries arrive in the North East for a programme of…...

4+ day, 9+ hour ago  (629+ words) Forget quiet strolls and postcard views " Durham City is set to pulse with pounding beats, roaming performers and brassy fanfare as Streets of Brass returns this summer. Taking over the city centre on the weekend of July 18 and 19, the free-to-attend…...

4+ day, 12+ hour ago  (499+ words) A new artwork celebrating Sunderland indie band Kenickie has been unveiled in the city centre, marking the latest addition to the city's growing Music Wall of Fame. The piece was revealed outside The Fire Station, forming part of an ongoing…...

4+ day, 10+ hour ago  (298+ words) The shortlist for the 2026 Mercury Prize will be revealed on July 30, ahead of the awards ceremony returning to Newcastle this autumn. The prestigious "12 Albums of the Year" prize will culminate in a live show at the Utilita Arena on October…...

5+ day, 12+ hour ago  (399+ words) Drones as weapons of modern warfare have been part of far too many news bulletins in recent years " but drone technology has a benign use in the world of entertainment. You'll see this at Newcastle Racecourse in August when a…...

5+ day, 14+ hour ago  (949+ words) The Turner Prize shortlist has been announced and it's of more than usual interest to culturally aspirant Middlesbrough whose MIMA art gallery hosts this year's competition. An exhibition of work by the four artists will open there in September (the…...