A brand-new community arts centre has recently opened its doors in the centre of Newbiggin, Northumberland with support from Advance Northumberland.

The Newbiggin Arts Centre (NAC) is a charity committed to benefiting the community by providing a place where people can enjoy art in all its forms.

Formally known as the “Little Gem Arts Gallery”, located on Gibson Street, Newbiggin, the NAC has recently undergone a transformation that has included a refurbishment of the Gibson St. centre and the development of its new studio on Front Street.

With both locations offering a mix of classes and clubs, venues for displaying and selling local artists’ painting, along with a shop for art materials, the NAC aims to offer something for everyone.

The Front St. location offers watercolour, acrylic, and drawing classes and clubs, for the novice as well as the experienced.  Here you will also find an exciting display of paintings done by Newbiggin’s local and neighbouring artists with displays changed regularly, making sure there will always be something new to see or buy.  There is also a shop where art materials can be bought.

Gibson St. is where you will find the water-based oil painting classes and clubs and weekly craft club.  If you go by on a Friday night, you will see that the studio is buzzing with life.  The popular Children’s Art Group takes place here, with children from the age of 6 to 16 benefitting from learning painting and craft skills, developing their life skills, and having the opportunity to socialise.

Steve Wilkinson, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Newbiggin Arts Centre said:

“Recreation facilities are always needed in a community.  But in this post-covid era they have become critically important to help the members of the community re-integrate and start socialising again.”

“A large proportion of our community have been in virtual isolation for the past eighteen months.  The classes and clubs which we run at our studios will play a major part in promoting mental and physical wellbeing of the most vulnerable members of our community”

“Whereas we are currently planning to consolidate our offerings in painting and craftwork, our long term ambition is also to make available – alongside other providers such as the Newbiggin Hub -  facilities and resources for all the Arts; performance arts, poetry and music, dance, etc. as well as the many other forms of visual arts.”

“In order to meet the demands of our community, I welcome other experienced artists out there who would like to share their wisdom by helping with classes or clubs, or in fact any other volunteers, or young people in need of work experience.  Anyone interested should get in touch with Newbiggin Arts Centre.”

Stephen Chappelhow, Commercial Property Surveyor at Advance Northumberland said, “It has been immensely gratifying on the part of Advance Commercial to work closely with such a committed, prominent and community focussed local organisation which promises to deliver much needed services into the heart of the Newbiggin Town Centre for years to come.

We have been able to work closely with Newbiggin Art Centre over a number of months to secure a lease of the premises during what has been an extremely challenging period for both landlords and tenants in view of Covid virus and related restrictions.”

With a portfolio of around 164,000 sqm of space, Advance Northumberland provides business space throughout Northumberland, including offices, industrial workshop and warehouse units, suites, business parks and managed workspace solutions.

If you would like to find out about finding premises in Northumberland please contact the Commercial team at Advance Northumberland on 01670 528 460, email commercial@advancenortumberland.co.uk or visit www.advancenorthumberlandcommercial.co.uk

For more information on Newbiggin Arts Centre visit: www.newbigginartscentre.org or call 01670 708 269.
You can also contact Steve Wilkinson, Chairman of the Board of Trustees on 07766 856 365 or the Children’s Club on 07858 447 090.