The Creative Call from County Durham, launched by the place-based initiative Into the Light, has garnered support from singer Joe McElderry and other cultural figures. The event, held on July 8, 2026, aimed to establish strategies for strengthening the region's creative sector.
Event Highlights and Goals
Hosted by South Shields-born Joe McElderry, the Creative Call event brought together artists, cultural organisations, businesses, and public-sector partners. The initiative seeks to make creative opportunities more visible and sustainable in County Durham, addressing challenges such as geography, transport, and isolation that hinder career development in rural areas.
Julia Handelman-Smith, Director of Into the Light, stated: "People across Durham have told us they'd like to see creative opportunities more visible and sustainable. They also asked for fair recognition for the value creative practitioners bring, more networking across the county and opportunities for peer support and engagement."
Impact of Into the Light
Born from County Durham's bid to become UK City of Culture 2025, Into the Light has engaged over 19,000 participants, attracted an audience of 126,000, supported more than 1,100 creative practitioners and freelancers, and organised over 1,300 events. Despite these achievements, research indicates that many creative professionals work in isolation without adequate visibility, investment, or recognition, leading to talent leaving the area.
Voices from the Community
Joe McElderry, who won The X Factor in 2009 and has built a career in music, television, and theatre, said: "Growing up in the North East and building a career in music and theatre, I know how much talent exists across our region; but talent also needs opportunity, encouragement and people willing to open doors. I was proud to host the launch of the Creative Call from County Durham. It is practical, positive and shaped by the people who know the county's creative scene best."
Local artist Lewis Hobson shared his experience: "What drives my work is getting people involved in telling the stories of their own communities. Through Into the Light, I've been able to work with more people, expand my network, and create projects that instil pride in people's hometowns. I want everyone to celebrate where they are from and not feel like they have to leave due to a lack of creative opportunities."
Commitment from Partners
Rhiannon Hiles, CBE, Chief Executive at Beamish, commented: "The Creative Call is a fantastic opportunity to support people across County Durham in forging careers in the creative industries. Working with Into the Light and partners, we are committed to widening access to learning and development across the creative and cultural sector."
Julia Handelman-Smith concluded: "Durham is a proud rural county, made up of villages and towns where culture sits at the heart of everyday life. Whether you're an artist, designer, songwriter or actor, you're already putting County Durham on the map. The Creative Call from County Durham isn't about one organisation; it's about everybody who believes culture has an important part to play in shaping our future. By working collectively, we can create a county where creativity is visible, valued and accessible to everyone."
The Creative Call sets out a collective ambition and invites creatives, institutions, businesses, educators, funders, and decision-makers to support creativity across the county.
