New things to see in the North East

Step into spring and discover what’s new in the North East this year. We’re lucky to have some amazing places in the North East and with new exhibitions, events and activities all taking place around the region, now’s the time to get out and explore what’s on your doorstep.

Artist Anya Gallaccio at Lindisfarne Castle

Lindisfarne Castle is opening up after lots of TLC 

Having spent over a year doing some important conservation work, Lindisfarne Castle will soon be re-opening its doors on Sunday 1 April. We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do something really special inside this year. So, from Saturday 5 May we’ve collaborated with a world renowned artist, Anya Gallaccio. She’ll bring in structures to reference the Castle being closed while we cared for it. This immersive experience will be here for one season only so it’s time to plan your visit.

Start planning your trip to Lindisfarne Castle now
Cragside House in Northumberland

Women and Power at Cragside 

In 2018, the centenary of some women gaining the vote, Cragside is celebrating the achievements women have made in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) over the last 100 years and will tell these tales through two brand new exhibitions opening in April and June.

Learn more about women and power at Cragside
Visitor walking towards the chapel at Gibside in autumn

Contemporary art celebrating women at Gibside 

The fascinating story of Mary Eleanor Bowes is being told through contemporary art at Gibside this summer, with two installations by Fiona Curran and Andrew Burton celebrating her life and love of botany. As the richest heiress in Georgian times, she triumphed in a divorce case against her abusive husband and paved the way for the reform of English divorce and custody laws.

Find out more about Gibside
A book by Helen Auburn for the Sunderland Book Project

Explore hidden stories of Sunderland 

Through local artist Theresa’s Easton’s the Sunderland Book Project exhibition, you can join us to help us celebrate Sunderland. This new exhibition at Washington Old Hall is a collection of 65 unique hand crafted books, pamphlets, zines and comics and what makes it really special is that each book, or creative interpretation, had to have one theme in mind - celebrating the North East city of Sunderland.

Visit Washington Old Hall's new exhibition
Puffins on the Farne Islands, Northumberland

The big puffin count  

With puffins starting to arrive on the Farne Islands, our rangers and volunteers are gearing up for a busy summer. Why? It’s puffin census year and we count puffins on the Farnes every five years. It helps us to understand whether the work we’re doing is helping them to breed successfully. You can visit the Farne Islands from Sunday 1 April.

Learn more about Puffins at the Farne Islands