FEATURE: Reopening Arts Venues Round-Up

Image: BALTIC

August will mark the reopening of some of our region’s arts venues as lockdown restrictions are eased; while many venues (particularly those who usually host performances) remain closed, our region’s museums and galleries are tentatively welcoming back their customers.

You’ll find information about reopenings and exhibitions peppered throughout this issue (including at Bowes Museum, Laing Art Gallery, Pineapple Black and Jam Jar Cinema). In addition, Tyne & Wear Museums & Archives have published reopening dates for their venues including South Shields Museum & Art Gallery (13^th August), Shipley Art Gallery (23^rd August), Discovery Museum and Great North Museum: Hancock (both 1^st September), with Hatton Gallery hoping for an autumn reopening. Life Science Centre will reopen on 1^st August with their new Dino Experience LEGO exhibition; BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art will open their ground floor gallery on 10^th August which continues to show the Abel Rodriguez exhibition; Ouseburn’s Biscuit Factory reopens on 1^st August, where their excellent Contemporary Young Artist Award exhibition continues; Sunderland’s Museum & Winter Gardens are in the process of a phased reopening; The Word in South Shields is open for return and collection of pre-booked books; while Stockton’s ARC have committed to an early September reopening.

Musicians keen to work off their lockdown rustiness can book rehearsal space at First Avenue Studios (1^st August) and Polestar (27^th July) in Newcastle; while Bunker Studios in Sunderland, Rocking Horse Rehearsal Rooms in Durham, Stockton’s Boom Boom Rehearsal Rooms, The Forum in Darlington and Redcar’s Backstreet Studio are all currently now open.

This is, of course, a work in progress list, so keep an eye on your favourite local venue, museum, gallery, cinema or art space to see what they’re up to. And if they’re not opening yet, consider how you can help spread the word of their online content – they need your voice now more than ever.