CREATE South Tyneside

We love South Tyneside. The borough enjoys a breath taking coastline, rich history and a burgeoning arts scene celebrating tradition and pushing innovation.

South Tyneside in the North East of England comprises the distinctive towns of Hebburn, Jarrow and South Shields and the friendly villages of the Boldons, Cleadon and Whitburn. Enjoying great transport connections to Sunderland, Gateshead and Newcastle with its distinctive character and unique perspective.

South Tyneside’s cultural strategy ‘Making Waves’ was developed by South Tyneside Council, South Tyneside Cultural Partners and the wider creative community. It helps residents and visitors make the most of South Tyneside’s arts, heritage and cultural offer.

 ‘Making Waves’ shares how South Tyneside will make the most of the arts, heritage, and cultural activity. At the heart of the strategy are inspiring individuals. CREATEBritain is helping us showcase this talent.

Join CREATEBritain and become a valued member of the CREATE South Tyneside community. Create your profile to share our experience and expertise with others. Whether you specialise in a specific creative field or work in various creative disciplines, this is a place where you can show the world what you do.

By joining you will connect to a growing network of creatives from animators to visual artists, designers to musicians. CREATEBritain will help you reach potential collaborators, clients and commissioners across the UK.

South Tyneside’s creative and cultural organisations include:

The Word. The National Centre for the Written Word with a changing programme of exhibitions with exciting collaborators, events, regular groups and more run by South Tyneside Libraries and South Tyneside Council staff. Perfect for a day out or upskilling creative skills with the BIPIC. It also hosts other regional cultural organisation activities like New Writing North.

The Customs House. Our Arts Centre which for over 30 years has inspired residents, and visitors and given many people their first opportunity working in the arts. The programme of live theatre, music gigs, cinema and gallery exhibitions constantly evolving responding to what audiences want. Alongside their creative programme The Custom House offers an exciting community and youth offer. Cornerstones of which include the outstanding Takeover annual youth arts festival, youth theatre groups, young performers group, summer schools, open exhibitions and collaborative projects. The Customs House is also home to the award-winning Little Panto with the Big Heart.

South Shields Museum and Art Gallery. The museum celebrating the rich heritage of South Tyneside from shipping to mining, seaside tourism and visual art with a local connection. It is a popular destination for local primary schools, families and visitors. Recent temporary exhibitions celebrate South Tyneside’s identity with shows like ‘Routes and Roots’ co-created with our Bangladeshi community and ‘Scran’ showcasing mouth-watering dishes from Roman times through to local favourites like seafood from Colemans, Minchella & Cos ice cream and flavours from South East Asia. Part of Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums.

Arbeia. A UNESCO World Heritage site with the finest full-scale Roman reconstructions in the country. This Roman fort near the mouth of the River Tyne, guarded the main sea route to Hadrian's Wall. It was a key garrison and military supply base to other forts along the Wall and is an important part of the history of Roman Britain. It is also believed to be the birth place of the Northumbrian King Oswin.

Souter Lighthouse and the Leas. The National Trust care for Souter Lighthouse which overlooks nature-rich clifftop grasslands, coastal park and rugged coastline. Home to the nearby Whitburn Coastal Conservation Centre and A short distance from Marsden Rock.

Jarrow Hall Anglo Saxon Farm, Village and Bede Museum. Jarrow Hall is located next to St. Paul’s Church and Monastery on Church Bank, Jarrow. Explore the world of Bede, Anglo Saxon life, gain heritage skills and discover more about environmental issues. Brought to you by Groundwork South and North Tyneside in partnership with South Tyneside Council.

The Cultural Spring. The Cultural Spring is an exciting, ambitious project to get more people in Sunderland and South Tyneside to experience and be inspired by the arts. We’re committed to making arts and culture an accepted and expected part of people’s lives. Most of their activity in South Tyneside takes places across community venues.

Other organisations contributing to the ‘Making Waves’ include Citizens Assembly South Tyneside (CAST); Creative Seed; Gateshead and South Tyneside Music Hub; Sangini; Sunderland University, Tyne Coast College and many independent sole traders.

The area also has incredible outdoor events and activities including:

Summer Concerts and Seasonal Events Programme. There are too many to mention so advise everyone takes a look at Visit South Tyneside. World class performers appear at our free open air Sunday Concerts in Bents Park bring thousands of visitors to the seafront every summer. The winter and summer parades give a sprinkle of seasonal cheer. Ocean Road Mela celebrates South Tyneside’s diverse community. And there are often live music and performances at the seaside amphitheatre.

Creative Market. Alongside our traditional South Shields Town Market we also work with The Big River Makers Market. Our creative markets give local makers the opportunity to sell their arts, crafts and homemade goods.

Finally, smaller creative companies, businesses and community organisations are making great things happen. From recording studios like Harbourmaster to film-makers like Red Stamp Productions and Wycombe 89 Media. To arial schools like Aria Movement and dance schools like South Tyneside Dance Workshop. Musicians like award winning singer and songwriter Jen Stevens; Singers Jade Thirwell, Joe McElderry; comedians Chris and Rosie Ramsey, Jason Cook, and Sarah Millican; writers Dame Catherine Cookson and Alan Plater, animator Sheila Graber, painter Bob Olley, Vince Ray, etc