News
12 August 2026
Spend a spooky night at the Great North Museum: Hancock
The Great North Museum: Hancock is inviting families to bed down among its galleries this October with the launch of its first-ever Halloween Sleepover.
06 August 2026
North East Museums saves rare flag from Battle of Trafalgar for the UK
North East Museums has acquired a rare Union Flag ensuring it remains in the UK, with the support of several generous funders. The flag was flown from the HMS Royal Sovereign, flagship of Newcastle-born Vice-Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood at the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805.
29 July 2026
Discovery Museum launches new gallery with North East transport themed exhibition
Discovery Museum in Newcastle is launching a brand-new Special Exhibitions Gallery with a playful transport exhibition called Things That Go! particularly aimed at families with younger children, opening on Saturday 1 August and running until 28 February 2027.
23 July 2026
North East Museums shortlisted for National Arts and Cultural Education Awards 2026
North East Museums has been shortlisted for the Power In Practice Award at the National Arts and Cultural Education Awards 2026.
21 July 2026
Neville Hall to join North East Museums
One of Newcastle’s finest Victorian buildings which houses an internationally significant mining engineering archive is being saved for the region.
20 July 2026
Free virtual Hadrian's Wall event for KS2 students
Museums, heritage organisations and universities join forces to bring a free virtual Hadrian's Wall event to KS2 students.
14 July 2026
The Potter’s Canvas: Ceramics and Painting in the 20th Century
The Potter’s Canvas: Ceramics and Painting in the 20th Century is a new exhibition opening at Newcastle University's Hatton Gallery on 19 September 2026. This exhibition looks at how 20th-century British ceramicists used drawing, painting and mark-making to transform the surface of clay.
13 July 2026
Discover free and affordable family adventures at North East Museums this summer.
North East Museums has free and low-cost activities for children of all ages, from toddler play spaces and hands-on workshops to Roman adventures, dinosaurs, trains and family-friendly exhibitions across Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Shields, Gateshead, Hexham and Ashington.
08 July 2026
Woodhorn Museum shortlisted for national Family Friendly Museum Award
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Woodhorn Museum has been shortlisted for the Kids in Museums Family Friendly Museum Award.
08 July 2026
Child refugee to Newcastle from Bosnian genocide shares his family's story in new exhibition
A new display From Bosnia to Tyneside charting one family’s journey of survival from war-torn Bosnia to safety in Newcastle in the mid-1990s will go on display in Discovery Museum from 10 July 2026, the day before the official UK Srebrenica Memorial Day, also known as Bosnian Genocide Memorial Day.
03 July 2026
Pre-Raphaelites: Art and Poetry - major exhibition to open at Laing Art Gallery in October 2026
Innovative Newcastle exhibition explores the connections between Pre-Raphaelite art and poetry for the first time.
23 June 2026
From Canvas to Camera Roll: Portraits in the Digital Age
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What if the first portrait people see of you isn't painted on canvas, but curated through selfies, filters and social media posts? This article explores how contemporary portraiture is shifting from idealised perfection towards honest depictions of identity, family life and human experience.
22 June 2026
New exhibition and play space opens at South Shields Museum & Art Gallery
Find out more about Let's Play: Under 7s Activities and the Experience of Being a Mam.
18 June 2026
North East Museums seeking Community Engagement Development Programme provider
North East Museums is seeking to appoint a provider to work with us to help us develop and then support delivery of a Community Engagement Staff development programme.
15 June 2026
North East Museums' Chair Knighted
Sir Chris Mullin knighted in the King's birthday honours list
09 June 2026
A Mycenaean Odyssey
What does it take to turn a passion for the ancient world into a museum exhibition? In this behind-the-scenes account, Newcastle University PhD student Emily Oldridge shares her journey of curating 'A Mycenaean Odyssey: A Journey from Myth to Reality' at Great North Museum: Hancock. From researching Bronze Age artefacts and exploring the relationship between Greek myth and archaeology, to designing displays and installing the exhibition itself, Emily reveals the creativity and curiosity involved in bringing archaeology to life.
26 May 2026
Speaker call out for CPD series for teachers and local cultural organisations
North East Museums and the Local History Hub are collaborating to launch a new local history training series as part of North East Museum’s CreatED Primary Education CPD programme.
21 May 2026
Music, heritage and family fun as Northumberland Miners’ Picnic returns to Woodhorn Museum
One of the North East’s longest running and best-loved events, the Northumberland Miners’ Picnic returns to Woodhorn Museum on Saturday 13 June.
14 May 2026
Malavika Anderson announced as co-chair of University Museums Group
Great North Museum: Hancock manager Malavika Anderson is the new co-chair of the University Museums Group. Alongside Luke Syson, she brings her insight and leadership to the UMG at a critical moment for the sector.
12 May 2026
Ways to Play: May Half Term Events and Activities
This May half term families are invited to enjoy a great value day out across museums and galleries on Tyneside.
