Northern Stories
Learn about how four young people from the North of England developed digital skills to tell stories about their local communities
LeftCoast intro image by Ollie RadfordArts Council England
Four creative and cultural organisations from across the North of England each worked with a young person from their region to create content, repurpose archive materials and curate a collection of stories capturing how they engage with local communities.
Left Behind - Looking Forward (2022) by Lucy HunterArts Council England
Each of the organisations plays a vital role in their surrounding communities – from established institutions, safeguarding the region's historical stories, through to grass roots participatory and engagement work, telling the stories of today.
Strictly Ballroom (2014) by Sean GoldthorpeArts Council England
The 12-week intensive programme expanded the digital content creation and storytelling skills of both interns and organisations, culminating in a diverse and colourful collection of stories.
Family Revisited - Art Piece two (2021) by Lizzie LovejoyArts Council England
Northern identity
The internships took place in areas where there is typically less engagement with culture.
The stories they have chosen to tell reflect a variety of northern identities and the communities which support them.
Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band (2022) by Garry CookArts Council England
This collection is a momentary look at the different identities that make up the region. It captures the importance and variety of creative and cultural activities taking place within the north's town and cities, across its countryside and coasts.
Let's explore these projects.
1. National Glass Centre
Based in Sunderland, this is a world-leading centre for artistic practice in glass, exhibiting national and international artists and inviting all to take part in experiences, courses, family activities and daily glassmaking demonstrations. View National Glass Centre's story.
2. LeftCoast
A team of five creatives whose collaborative practice is socially-engaged, socially-useful and artistically ambitious. LeftCoast delivers Blackpool’s Creative People and Places programme to help more people choose and take part in arts and culture. View LeftCoast's story.
3. ARC
An arts centre in Stockton on Tees, ARC is dedicated to supporting its community through engagement in arts and culture. ARC is a place where people can come together, to experience new ideas through art and culture, to share and tell their own stories. View ARC's story.
4. TIN Arts
TIN Arts are an inclusive dance charity, based in Durham. They specialise in making and presenting great art, created with, and performed by artists with a learning disability or autism, both nationally and internationally. View TIN Art's story.
Interns Daniel, Natasha, Owen and Adam by Dean ShawArts Council England
A head start
Engaging an intern allowed the organisations extra support to embed skills and develop strategies, whilst also providing valuable learning, work experience and opportunities for a young person new to the arts and culture sector.
Digital Skills workshop by Dean ShawArts Council England
Support and mentoring
Arts Council England's Digital Culture Network supported the participants to develop content creation skills, focusing on storytelling across all platforms, including social media.
The Digital Culture Network support creative and cultural organisations to develop their digital skills and maturity, helping them harness the benefits of technology.
Adam filming Lizzie Lovejoy as part of the internship by Adam McLeanArts Council England
Developing digital skills and resources in-house fosters dynamism within organisations, allowing them to be agile and responsive.
Whilst the interns gain a new skill set to take with them to their next opportunity.
"My favourite bit of the project was learning about the events LeftCoast creates and understanding how they help local communities."
Natasha, intern with LeftCoast
"The social media workshop with Haydn really changed my view on how arts organisation can connect to an audience, I've revaluated how I might use social platforms in my role."
Daniel, intern with National Glass Centre
"Talking to other creatives about artistic practice outside of my area of expertise was really inspiring. The project has given me new experiences and brought about some exciting opportunities."
Adam, intern with ARC
"Taking action shots with the dancers was fantastic. I've fallen back in love with taking photos and video again, I'm more motivated than ever. "
Owen, intern with TIN Arts.
Next steps
Daniel and Natasha are now employed with the organisations they worked with.
How Did Fun Turn Into Fear? (2) (2022) by Hannah PeverleyArts Council England
"The project has increased our digital skills and started conversations around our digital future.... It has given us the opportunity to discuss some great projects and events in the public sphere that normally don't get that recognition."
Gemma, National Glass Centre
TIN Arts - Quiet Riot (2022) by TIN ArtsArts Council England
"The project has also had an impact on other staff members skills around digital media and has led to an increased awareness and willingness to contribute to this area of work."
Martin, TIN Arts
Northern Stories collection
Northern Stories was a pilot project developed and supported by Arts Council England's Digital Culture Network and Google Arts & Culture
Find out more about the participants and discover their Northern Stories.
1. National Glass Centre
2. LeftCoast
3. ARC
4. TIN Arts
TIN Arts - Running Out of Time (2018) by Ian PaineArts Council England
Let's Create
Northern Stories provides just a small insight into the important and vital work of these organisations, and there are 1000s more organisations and individuals across the country working to ensure everyone’s creativity is nurtured and valued. Get involved, Let's Create.
Meet Arts Council England's Digital Culture Network by visiting their website.
Learn more about Arts Council England's Priority Places and Levelling Up for Culture Places.
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