Newcastle Culture Partnership

Unfolding Theatre has been working with Newcastle City Council and Newcastle Gateshead Cultural Venues to help establish a Newcastle Culture Partnership, bringing together cultural workers from across the city to shape the future of culture in Newcastle. This work has been delivered through our North East Culture Social programme, which expanded significantly in 2025-26.

In September 2025, we hosted an event at Newcastle City Library to relaunch the city's Culture Partnership, discuss Newcastle's cultural strategy and explore the next steps for the partnership. The event featured a keynote from Newcastle Council Leader Cllr Karen Kilgour, alongside creative provocations from rapper Kay Greyson (Free School Meals & Serving Up) and David Almond. Ten bursaries supported funded places for freelancers.

Building on that launch, in March 2026 we hosted an event at Live Theatre exploring the theme of 'Place'. Speakers came from NewBridge Project, New Writing North, NE1, Newcastle City Council and North East Museums.

We are continuing to work with Newcastle City Council to develop the Culture Partnership in 2026-27.

If you would like to hear about further updates to Newcastle Culture Partnership, sign up here.