REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL

WORDS: CLAIRE DUPREE / EUGENIE JOHNSON

Image: Abel Rodríguez installation view, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead. Image by Rob Harris (c) 2020 BALTIC

It’s not all doom and gloom out there; when the situation is challenging, artists always find a way to create. Here we’ve compiled an ever-growing list of places for you to seek entertainment, sustenance and advice, with an emphasis on independent North East businesses. We've tried our best to be as comprehensive as we can and we’ll update this every month. If you'd like to tell our readers your news, please get in touch: narcmedia@gmail.com.

As things seem to be changing on a daily basis at the moment, we apologise for any errors or changes to what's listed here.

STREAMING, VIRTUAL VIEWING, PARTICIPATION & MORE

Teaming up with Pedestal VR, Tyne & Wear Museum and Archives are offering virtual tours of Great North Museum: Hancock, giving you access to their biology and ethnographic stores as well as their Ice Age to Iron Age gallery.

You can still visit Newcastle's Discovery Museum in virtual form, as a variety of their exhibits and rooms are available to look around for free via Google Arts & Culture.

If you need an artistic fix, go for a jaunt around the Laing Art Gallery's extensive collection on Google Arts & Culture.

Artworks at Middlesbrough's Platform A Gallery are available to view online. Its diverse range of exhibitions, including current works by Leslaw Tetla, can be enjoyed in glorious 3D via the Artland website.

Newcastle’s Side Gallery are asking for suggestions on how digital content can be produced for their audience. Not only that, but hundreds of their exhibitions are available to view for free on their website.

4A digital visit to BALTIC is now possible, with all their current exhibitions including Judy Chicago and Animalesque, plus related video tours by BALTIC Crew and other filmed events available to view. Plus there’s a digital version of the recently opened Abel Rodriguez exhibition containing extensive install photography, plus the full 16 minute film Abel. They've also recently uploaded the first of their Meet & Make Online videos, featuring artist Mat Fleming. Follow and use #balticconnect to stay plugged in to their activities.

Independent Teesside arts organisation Dovetail Joints have launched a virtual gallery and interactive exhibition space for artists to exhibit their work. Submissions and collaborations are welcomed.

Slated to take place from Friday 1st-Sunday 3rd May, GIFT(Gateshead International Festival of Theatre) is still going ahead, albeit in digital format. Organisers have been working hard to ensure collaboration and interactivity remain key to the GIFT experience, with a host of talented artists and practitioners providing a vibrant bite-sized programme exploring connection, international identity, sustainability in art and climate emergency solutions. We'll bring you much more info in our May issue.

Theatre company Open Clasp have made their production Key Change available to watch for free on their website. Devised alongside women in HMP Low Newton to tour to male prisons, the criticallyacclaimed work presents an illuminating portrait of women in prison.

Northern Stage are making sure you can still get your fix of theatrical news and opinions thanks to their podcast which will offer interviews, stories and theatre-related chat. Currently online is a conversation between theatre company Curious Monkey's director Amy Golding, Northern Stage's associate director Mark Calvert and Young Company associate director Louie Ingham. Listen to the podcast here.

From Wednesday 1st April, Eliot Smith Dance Company dancers will be delivering free dance classes, from contemporary to hip-hop and ballet to yoga, tailored for young people, dance professionals and the elderly every Monday, Wednesday and Friday via their social media channels. You can also watch performances from ESD's vast repertoire via their website, and company dancers will be hosting free Q&As.

If anyone understands the importance of laughter right now, it's The Stand Comedy Club. With three branches (Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow) and a wealth of excellent contacts in the industry, they're well placed to bring some of the hottest comedians directly to your screens. Saturday Night Live at The Stand will stream live on Saturday 4th and 11th April via YouTube, with more info announced as it happens viatheir website.

Writer CJ Cooke has mobilised a swathe of superb writers for the very first Stay At Home literary festival, taking place via their website until Saturday 11th April. Workshops, readings, panels and Q&A sessions will take place, with events of particular note including our region's own Claire Malcolm, chief executive of New Writing North, who's in conversation with Maggie O'Farrell, and North East poetry magazine Butcher's Dog's editor Jo Clement who chairs a poetry showcase. With 7-8 events per day, and everything free of charge, it'll be an informative and enjoyable way to spend your time.

NARC. scribe Catharina Joubert has kicked off her new podcast series Regeneration Studio with some excellent content exploring how the independent creative sector can weather the Covid19 storm. Future podcasts will explore inspirational stories of business creatives and the positive impact their work has on their communities, with arts and culture at the forefront of her explorations.Listenhere.

The Star & Shadow Cinema is a much-loved staple of the region's music, film and artistic scenes. While they're regrouping and their volunteers are helping out in the community, they'll also be broadcasting a radio show and invite listeners to get involved with tracks, recorded messages, idents, reportage, mixes and audio treats. Listen via Mixlr here.

South Shields actor and pub manager Stephen Sullivan has turned his hand to storytelling on his increasingly popular Facebook page. Storytime With Stevey offers live storytelling with tales for kids and adults, often complete with costumes and unusual props.

Running out of educational diversions for the kids? Newcastle-based singing teacher Kate Covell-Bullock is hosting online singing lessons every Monday at 10am for children stuck at home via her Facebook page.

Aside from this fair magazine, of course, there's nowhere better to get your local music fix than our region's BBC Introducing programmes. Broadcast on BBC Radio Newcastle and BBC Tees on Saturday nights from 8pm, the lovely Nick Roberts (Newcastle) and Rianne Thompson (Tees) will keep you entertained and informed.

When you're as plugged in to the local scene as Stockton's Georgian Theatre, it can be incredibly hard to go dark. The venerable venue and their hard-working team are determined not to let music lovers fall by the wayside, every Saturday they'll be streaming live sets via Facebook from 7.30pm. Artists you can expect to hear from include Shakk (4th April), Kaitlyn Kempen from Komparrison (11th April) and Joe Ramsey (18th April). Keep an eye on their socials for more info as it happens.

We Shall Overcome kicked off in 2015 in response to the government's austerity cuts, and have been using performance and musical events to raise money for a variety of food banks, outreach organisations and crisis centres. In continuing their good work, they'll be hosting WSO Isolation Festival, an all-day virtual gig on Facebook on Saturday 11th April. Musicians and poets will perform in their own homes, beaming their performances straight to interested viewers, from midday to midnight. Performers include Grace Petrie, Phil Odgers, Attila The Stockbroker, The Wakes and many more. Voluntary donations are requested at the group's GoFundMe page

All systems are go for Lindisfarne Festival, which takes place from 3rd-6th September at Beal Farm in Northumberland. To keep prospective festival goers entertained they present the Lindisfarne Lockdown, a series of livestreamed performances from some of the artists taking part in the festival. So far there's been yoga classes and live music, with poetry, comedy and much more on the way a couple of times a week, all streamed via their Facebook page.

Spearheaded by acoustic vocalist Gareth Beddard, a group of North East musicians have banded together to provide entertainment via Facebook page Live Jam @ Lockdown. Their aim is to bring performances from across the UK, festival-style, with a pre-booked roster of performances. Artists are able to add a digital 'tip hat' but the main aim is to share and enjoy live music. They're hoping to run the project every weekend across the lockdown period.

Local vloggers NAMI Up North are hosting live takeovers on their Facebook and Instagram pages from North East artists, taking place every evening at 8pm until 20th April. Expect everything from live music to stand-up comedy and spoken word performance.

Award-winning composer and regular performer of lunchtime piano recitals back when we were all allowed outside, Steve Luck's talents are still available to those in isolation thanks to his livestreamed recitals, which take place at 1pm every day via Facebook Live. See the link on his page to buy him a coffee in return.

Durham-based record label Nice Mind Records are working on a new podcast to add to their series, planning to premiere on Easter Sunday the new show will have a theme of Spring and rebirth. It's also a great place to stop off for info on what their artists are up to.

Beccy Owen's Couch Choir

Joining the bedroom acoustic gigs and housebound techno DJs in what is now being called #coronacore (© Ben Myers), ‘Stagger’ Lee Fisher is going to be replacing his cancelled DJ gigs with some live streaming. Thursday 9th April was supposed to be his Riddim! reggae night at Ernest but you can catch him online from 9pm. Likewise, his Easter Sunday soul session will be online (with guests!) from 8pm.

Online weekly songwriting sessions are taking place of We Make Culture's Young Musicians Project meetings, usually held at Pop Recs in Sunderland. Musicians aged 14- 19 can can check in for a Zoom session every Saturday from 11am, and sign up for one-to-one songwriting sessions with Marty Longstaff, Natasha Haws and Beccy Young. Email laura@wemakeculture.co.uk to book a session and check out their Facebook page for more info.

Also masterminded by We Make Culture, and hosted by Cornshed Sisters' Jennie and Liz, the Pop Choir Project is going digital. They encourage anyone with an interest in singing to join their fun and relaxed sessions titled Pop Choir Project Lockdown, with the admirable catchphrase of 'when the world goes weird, we will keep singing'. They'll regularly post videos of songs to practice and the choir will 'meet' regularly via Zoom. See their Facebook group for more info.

Singer-songwriter Beccy Owen, whose debut album with The Refuge came out last year, is hosting Couch Choir, an inclusive, pay-as-you-feel pop-up choir taking place every Sunday morning via Zoom, giving the chance to (literally) harmonise with others even as social distancing sets in. Sign up by emailing popupchoirs@gmail.com

Eliot Smith Dance

CROWDFUNDERS, CHARITY INFO, COMMUNITY RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITIES

Curious Festival is set to celebrate its fifth birthday this year and they are continuing in their mission to develop LGBTQIA+ arts and audiences. They've launched a crowdfunding campaign to help make Curious Festival 2020 happen, which will be open until 6th April.

Independent theatre Alphabetti have made an appeal for donations while their income is frozen. Committed to supporting their staff and reopening once the crisis has passed, anything you can spare will be appreciated.

While government assistance may be of some comfort, it's still a worrying time for our region's music venues, with many independent businesses still dealing with large overheads just to keep a roof over their heads. Beloved Ouseburn venue The Cluny are staying true to form and promising four weekend showcases of superb live music when life returns back to some semblance of normality. Dates and line-ups are TBC, of course, but they're encouraging advance tickets to be bought via their Crowdfunder page, for what will no doubt be some of the most anticipated comeback gigs around. Don't miss out!

Local treasures like Newcastle Castle, which operate on a charitable basis, will be hit hard by the current situation. Support them until they can reopen their doors by donating a few pounds.

Arguably, without rehearsal rooms there would be no music scene. While our region's rehearsal spaces are currently closed there may still be ways you can support them. Friends of First Avenue Studios have set up a GoFundMe page to keep the historic space going; celebrating their 30 year anniversary this year, it's a much-loved local studio with a committed team – give them a hand by chipping in to their Fighting Fund, and consider our other local studios and how you might be able to help them in future.

The Biscuit Factory are aiming to support their team by asking for donations, however small, via their website. Their collections are also available to browse and any online orders are currently still being processed.

The good folks at Sunderland's Pop Recs Ltd. do a heck of a lot more than provide coffee, chats and the odd record sale from their Stockton Road hub. Now the shop has had to close, we urge you to 'forward buy' a coffee or chuck them a few quid via PayPal (poprecsltd@gmail.com) to help them keep up their great work when things get back to normal.

South Shields cafe Sea-Change provide sustainable employment for those with autism and learning difficulties, they've got a voucher system in place for those who'd like to support them upon reopening as well as a crowdfunding campaign. Visit their website for details of both.

The recently established Artist Food Bank Network is a volunteer-run collective of artists, musicians, studios and galleries who banded together to support the Trussell Trust's local food banks, with organisations hosting collection points for food and non-food items. With the current lockdown situation they're appealing for donations via their GoFundMe page to raise money for the Trust, with donations being split between Newcastle West End, Newcastle East and Gateshead food banks.

Radioh Europa by Action Hero (c) JMA Photography part of GIFT

Set up by the Free Trade Inn, the Cumberland Arms and Mean Eyed Cat, a crowdfunding campaign is open to directly support street food traders in the area, It'll allow people to 'prepay' for meals at the pubs' most regular traders, including Shanty Town, Scream For Pizza, Goodtimes Tacos, Cubanos and Catalinas, once the restrictions have lifted.

Live Theatre are keeping their Creative Opportunities open, ensuring that there will still be productions in the pipeline. Writers for short play event 10 Minutes To... are being sought until 3rd April, the deadline for their £2,000 bursary for story-led theatre-making is open until 30th April, while script submissions for full-length plays are being accepted until 31st May. For more information visit their website.

For those working as freelancers in the cultural sector, it's never been more important to stay plugged into networks. The excellent Tyne & Wear Cultural FreelancersFacebook group is a haven of calm, where helpful members post supportive information and advice. It's also a welcoming place to talk about your own project, particularly with collaboration and feedback in mind.

Curvy Sounds

The Theatre Fans NEpage on Facebook is a hub for those who love watching theatre. Masterminded by the folks who ran Jabberwocky Market pop-up theatre events, it's become a ‘go to’ site for theatre fans and audiences to share resources on online streaming, news about theatre shows in general and theatre-related content and chat.

The Sunderland Indie is a networking site for artists and creatives based in Sunderland. Their aim is to help independent artists in the area promote their practice and network with eachother. An exhibition and performance-based event will take place at Arts Centre Washington from 16th October-7th November.

Newly set up collective Come Together NE aim to provide a support network for artists in the region, with fundraising activities at the heart of their plans. Keep an eye on the Facebook page for developments.

Musician Ruth Patterson of Holy Moly & The Crackers has written a blog post about cutting her latest tour short due to the coronavirus. It's an honest reflection on her experience of living with disability, and also a heartfelt call to look after those who are chronically ill or disabled and to keep community spirit alive.

Stockton’s Georgian Theatre is the cornerstone of the town’s music scene. It’s not just a historic music venue, it’s also home to Tees Music Alliance who do tremendous work in supporting musicians, audiences and the creative industries, and their work in the community strives to support a thriving music scene in the region. Wholly independent and operating as a not-for-profit business, The Georgian Theatre have started a crowdfunding campaign to help them continue their good work.

ONLINE SHOPPING

So much more than a musical instrument and repair shop, Curvy Sounds provides a thoroughly important community service to musicians. The Heaton Hall Road shop is determined to help artists in their endeavours to create. Repair work is currently on pause while they catch up with orders, but they will create a collection service at the shop, arranging a time when customers can collect purchases made online or repairs from the shop doorstep if they are able to. They’ll post all updates on their website and socials and their online shop is available at any time.

Netflix and Amazon may have sorted out your viewing needs in isolation, but when things return to normal the lure of the big screen will be hard to resist. We recommend purchasing a voucher for Tyneside Cinema to help see the independent picture house through this rough time. They’re also appealing for donations, which you can do online or by texting TYNESIDE and your chosen amount (10, 20 etc.) to 70085. T

he#artistsupportpledge is helping artists through a simple concept; they post images of their work that they are willing to sell for up to £200 each (plus shipping) and each time they reach £1000 of sales, they pledge to buy another artist’s work for £200, helping others within the artistic community. ,

It’s never been more important to keep your local record store in business. All our regional stores are able to offer web shopping and deliveries, so check individual pages for information. Some, like Newcastle’s Beyond Vinyl, are also setting up live streams and podcasts. 586 Records, Beatdown Records, Beyond Vinyl, Reflex CD & Vinyl, RPM, Saxosoul Records, Sound It Out Records, Vinyl Guru

There will be many philanthropic enterprises out there attempting to raise money to support people in this difficult time. We’ll keep an eye out for those based in the region and with a focus on the arts. Here’s a couple of goodies:

Artist and producer for Middlesbrough’s Creative Factory, Gordon Dalton has set up an emergency fund for artists on Teesside. Providing a hardship fund for artists, cultural workers, practitioners and creative freelancers that can’t work or have been adversely affected, the Covid Impact Fund For Artists will be available to anyone with a TS postcode. Donate here.

The Community Foundation has set up a Coronovirus Response and Recovery Fund alongside other funders to help support community organisations within the region. Through the fund, they are looking to award grants to local charities and communities, helping to reach those that need the most support. Donate here.

If you need further advice and the official sites aren’t helping, try our region’s support agencies and experts...

It’s a confusing time for musicians and creatives who may find themselves with cancelled tours, releases put on hold or legal issues to wrangle with. Whatever your query, the good folks at Tees Music Alliance continue to be on hand to offer advice. Drop their resident music experts Chris and Dave an email on hello@teesmusicalliance.org.uk.

Business development agency Generator’s social media pages continue to post advice and support from the many agencies they work with. Keep an eye on their feeds for updates via Help Musicians, PRS Foundation and more.

Sage Gateshead continue in their commitment to support early career musicians and emerging artists, even when their doors are closed. Throughout April they’re hosting a series of one-to-one advice sessions via phone or video call covering artist career advice, and work-related health issues (both from Thursday 9th April), plus a webinar on keeping well physically, mentally and vocally (Monday 20th April). Also worth a read is Managing Director Abigail Pogson’s emotive blog post ‘This will only exist in the moment...’ The venue are also running a resilience fund, for those who would like to donate.

RESTAURANTS WITH DELIVERY SERVICES

Support the region’s independent restaurants by buying your takeaway from them direct. Please get in touch if you’re offering this service (or know someone who is)

NEWCASTLE

Gingerinos (pizza), Goodtimes Tacos, Little Green (Vegan), Meat:Stack (burgers, drive-thru only), Magpye (Vegan pie) Pink Lane Bakery, Redheads Mac N Cheese (Friday only), Zuccinni's Pasta Bar

SUNDERLAND & SURROUNDS

Bellini (Italian), The Calabash Tree (Caribbean), Clean Bean (Gluten free), No 2 Church Lane (Burgers), The Little Refill Shop

DURHAM

Fat Hippo (Burgers), Lebaneat (Lebanese), Thai River

HARTLEPOOL

Marco Polo (Italian)

MIDDLESBROUGH & SURROUNDS

Barbarossa (Sourdough Pizza), Mannequin Cafe (Polish/Sandwiches), Oven Restaurant (Contemporary), Real Meals Delicatessen

STOCKTON & SURROUNDS

Caruso (Italian), Scrann (Pizza/Charcuterie), The Waiting Room (Vegetarian)

DARLINGTON & SURROUNDS

Haughton Chippy, Oven Restaurant (Contemporary), Reema (Indian), Santorini Greek Restaurant, Sol Tapas, The Tapas Bar, Tea With Alice (Sweet treats)

BEER, WINE AND SPIRITS DELIVERY

Buy direct from some of the region’s best breweries, bars and producers. Get in touch if you’d like to be added to this list.

BEER

Allendale Brewery, Anarchy Brew Co, Box Social, Brinkburn Street Brewery, Credence Brewing, Cullercoats Brewery, Donzoko Brewing Company, Durham Brewery, Errant Brewery, Firebrick Brewery, Full Circle Brew Co, Grownding Angels, Hadrian Border Brewery, McColl's Brewery, Northern Alchemy, The Golden Smog (Stockton), Tyne Bank Brewery, Wylam Brewery

WINE

Tyneside's Laneberg Wine

SPIRITS

Alfie & Fin's (Gin bar, Tynemouth), Durham Distillery, Poetic License

Big thanks to Daisy at Craft Beer Newcastle who let us use some of the info on her website for this list.