Partnerships

Local partnerships

We collaborate with our NewcastleGateshead Cultural Venues (NGCV) colleagues, and support the work of the North East Cultural Partnership and other regional forums such as the North East Historic Environment Forum, and local cultural forums in South Tyneside, Newcastle and Northumberland.

We are also closely engaged in the Hadrian’s Wall Partnership. We support and facilitate the eight Local Cultural Education Partnerships established across the North East.

In addition, we lead several regional programmes, outlined below.

Museum Development

We are part of a consortium with York Museums Trust, the Manchester Museums Partnership and Cumbria Museum Consortium delivering Museum Development in the North of England. This involves helping museums to be more sustainable, more creative, and to increase their engagement with audiences and communities.

Activity includes training courses for museum staff and volunteers, grant aid, advisory support and regular communications.

North East Family Arts Network

We administer the North East Family Arts Network supporting North East based cultural organisations to provide high quality and inclusive experiences for families of all backgrounds via training, resources and communications. 27 cultural organisations representing over 50 venues were members of the network in 2024-25.

Via the network’s Family Explorers initiative, families are provided with information, advice and peer networks to help them access North East cultural attractions and events.

Portable Antiquities Scheme

We deliver the Portable Antiquities Scheme for the northern half of the region on behalf of the British Museum. The scheme is to encourage the recording of archaeological objects found by members of the public. 

Many archaeological objects are discovered by metal detector users, but also by people whilst out walking, gardening or going about their daily work. Our Finds Liaison Officer records all reported finds and this information is used to help advance knowledge of history and archaeology.

Environmental Information Records Centre

We manage the Environmental Information Records Centre North East, a partnership of wildlife recorders, statutory bodies, local authorities and wildlife trusts working together to collate environmental data which is used to inform nature conservation.

The Late Shows

We co-ordinate The Late Shows festival across Newcastle and Gateshead for two nights every May. Over 50 cultural venues take part providing free behind the scenes tours, exhibitions, performances and music and it attracts over 30,000 visits.

We are closely engaged with the work of the English Civic Museums Group and the National Museum Directors’ Council, and have strategic partnerships with the National Archives, the British Museum and the Science Museum Group. 

We have worked in partnership with the National Gallery for the last two years, firstly on their Visits programme to bring Constable's 'The Cornfield' to a shopping centre in Jarrow, and as part of the National Treasures anniversary celebrations bringing Turner’s 'The Fighting Temeraire' to the Laing Art Gallery for the Turner: Art, Industry & Nostalgia exhibition.

We take part in the British Museum’s International training programme and host curators from museums around the world. Most recently delegates came from Kenya, China, Malaysia and Romania.

We are working with scholars from Xi'an in China to develop potential exhibitions. We are also a partner in a long-term project, Bridging the North Sea, to explore the role of the North Sea and the Dover straits as a highway in the Roman period.

Friends organisations, volunteer groups and learned societies play an invaluable role in supporting our nine museums and galleries. 

We are very grateful for their contributions of time, expertise and financial contributions.

• Friends of the Hatton Gallery
• Friends of the Laing Art Gallery
• Friends of Segedunum
• Natural History Society of Northumbria
• North Tyneside Steam Railway Association
• Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne
• The Arbeia Society
• The Light Dragoons Heritage Trust.