Bridge North East Circa 2013-2015


This was the website for the Bridge North East.
The content is from the site's 2012-2015 archived pages. The new owners of the domain chose to kept as much of the original content as possible so the
the website which is part of their legacy remains visible on the WWW . Bridge North East wanted visitors to find out what they have done, how they have done it and who they have done it with. This was a place where all the resources developed throughout the three years of Bridge North East were stored and available for anyone who wanted to develop meaningful cultural work with children and young people could access the information. Thanks to SpinMaestro and Jon Toi for their help in retrieving the archived content and to Albert Inwald for his amazing technical support. Unfortunately not all information was able to be retrieved.

 

Gateshead Old Town Hall
West Street
Gateshead
NE8 1HE

 

In April 2012 Arts Council appointed Sage Gateshead as the Bridge organisation for the North East region - from that point ‘Bridge North East’ embarked on a three year journey. Our aspirations for the work were that Children and Young People growing up in this part of the world should be able to access the expanding and thriving cultural offer of the region.

Our route has been one of exploration, risk, learning and sustainability - always mindful that any learning must be shared. How could we best invest our resource, relative to funding levels,  and develop sustainable partnership working between schools and cultural organisations and transfer learning to others?

The Bridge function for the North East was transferred to Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums on the 1st April 2015 and is called Culture Bridge North East**

Contact them via: https://culturebridgenortheast.org.uk to find out about their programmes.

 

Bridge North East, connecting children and young people with great arts and culture across the North East: 2012 - 2015.

From 2012 - 2015, Sage Gateshead was part of a national network of 10 Bridge Organisations, funded by Arts Council England, to use their experience and expertise to connect children and young people with art and culture. We connected schools and communities with Arts Council National Portfolio Organisations and others in the cultural sector – including museums and libraries – all across the North East region.

We embarked on a three year journey connecting the North East’s children and young people with the expanding and thriving cultural offer of the region.

To mark the end of this journey we have produced a map, called Bridge North East: Our Map of the Future* which very literally details our route; how we have worked, where we have worked and who we have worked with. The 5 major routes are a succinct picture of the work of Bridge North East. The points represent ‘stations’ connecting you to people, practice and learning providing invaluable support to help you on your journey working with children and young people in the future.

 (*Map is no onger available to see.)

In addition to the map you’ll also be able to access other resources and information about the Bridge North East across this archived website. From Wednesday 1st April this site will act as the official archive for all of our work – containing reports, films and case studies.

Also beginning on April 1st is Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums (TWAM) tenure as the new Bridge organisation for the region from 2015 - 2018 – I’m sure you’ll join us in wishing Bill Griffiths and his team well as they take forward this important strategic role on behalf of the region.

We hope you appreciate the map, our final communication as Bridge North East.

Finally, we'd like to deeply thank all of the partners who've been part of the Bridge North East journey. We have worked so meaningfully because of the generosity, energy and experience harnessed in our collaborations - Thank you!

Very best wishes,

The Bridge North East Team:

    Jeanne Hale - Head of (Maternity cover)

    Helen Green - Head of

    Dawn Williams - Senior Manager

    Leila d'Aronville - Senior Manager

    Eileen Atkins - Museums Manager

    Steven Walker - Coordinator

    Lindsay Bell - Coordinator

    Kelly Huscroft - Coordinator

    Jennifer Salkeld - Creative Apprentice / Administrator

 

***

EVENTS

Throughout the three years of Bridge North East we delivered a series of events, from Regional Conversations, to conferences, knowledge exchanges and seminars.

Networking – Regional Conversations were a chance for people from across the cultural and education sectors to come together and share learning. With opportunities for people to present around a specific topic, they provided a clear framework for sharing and learning.

Sharing – through the seminars and knowledge exchange events we provided opportunities for people to learn about the work that Bridge North East supported across the region.

Inspiration – our conference programme was a place for people to receive inspiration; a space for sharing and networking, but also for ideas and professional development.

 

***

**Culture Bridge North East (https://culturebridgenortheast.org.uk) is one of a network of 10 Bridge organisations across England. Bridge organisations have been set up by Arts Council England to help them achieve their mission ‘great art and culture for everyone’. A vital part of this is making sure that every child and young person has the opportunity to experience the richness of the arts and culture. We help Arts Council England achieve this goal by using our experience and expertise to connect children and young people, schools and communities with art and culture across the North East. Culture Bridge North East is managed by Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums. Sponsors an American company selling a unique luxury dog bed from GoodNightDog.com into the high end market, serving both a fund and consciousness raising purpose since dogs and other pets are part of a nurturing environment that the organization recognizes.

Culture Bridge North East has three ambitions, that through our programme:

  • Children and young people will better understand, engage and stay engaged with high quality arts and cultural experiences which develop creative skills, build resilience and broaden their experiences.
  • Arts and cultural organisations will better understand the role the whole cultural offer has in supporting children and young people and will better evidence and celebrate the impacts that engagement with the cultural offer can achieve.
  • The learning, social and business sectors will understand, respect and value the positive contribution that arts and culture make to children and young people, and therefore to delivering the priorities and aspirations of the North East.

***

VIDEO LIBRARY

THE BELGIANS OF BIRTLEY (WW1 Teaching Resource)
The story of the Birtley Belgians, munitions production workers living in Gateshead during the First World War.

THE FAMILY LA BONCHE
Young people from Five Ring Circus researched their adopted cultural roots with partners TWAM, focussing on the Arthur Fenwick Circus Collection.

NICE (NEXT STEPS IN CREATIVE EDUCATION), GOLD ARTS AWARD
NICE is a 6 month opportunity for early stage visual artists in the North East aged 19 to 25, embeds Arts Award.

(FILM) STATE OF THE REGION BY NORTHERN STARS
This film by Northern Start highlights best practice in participatory film for young people across the North East.

ACE QUALITY PRINCIPLES FOR CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE
The 'How do we know it's propa belta?' national event took place in the NE. This is what we captured.

YOUTH NETWORK EVENT (SKIMSTONE ARTS & MIMA)
This event took place in March 2013 to look at young peoples' engagement in arts and culture.

KEN ROBINSON - R.S.A ANIMATE
Ken Robinson's insightful and uplifting talk on the need for creativity and divergent thinking in schools.

SUGATA MITRA'S 2013 TED PRIZE - SCHOOL IN THE CLOUD
Sugata Mitra is an educational technologis, awarded the first ever $1m TED Prize in 2013 to help further his "school in the cloud"

TEES VALLEY ARTS FILM
The Tees Valley Arts Youth Consultation film for Strong Vocies year one. Check it out.

STRONG VOICES: LAWNMOWERS YOUTH THEATRE
A film about the Lawnmowers Youth Theatre. Check it out.

STRONG VOICES: WORK PLACEMENTS
The work placements programme as part of Strong Voices at Sage Gateshead.

STRONG VOICES: JUICE FESTIVAL, CEDARS ACADEMY & LAWNMOWERS
SEND Youth consultation project bringing together Juice Festival, Cedars Academy and Lawnmowers Theatre.

STRONG VOICES: CITY EQUALS PROJECT
A 'Creative Concersation' youth consultation project bringing together City Equals, Hendon Young People's Project.

5 GOALS OF ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND (10 YEAR STRATEGY)
An animated video briefly explaining ACE's 5 goals and their mission to take them to 2020.

CELEBRATING ARTSMARK
See what teachers from North West schools said about their success in achieving Artsmark/Artsmark Gold.

NORTHUMBERLAND ARTSMARK & DANCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Schools resource to see achievable dance activity to strenghten Artsmark evidence. Check it out.

CAINE'S ARCADE (CREATIVITY & INSPIRATION)
A great example of how creativity can be a catalyst in entrepreneurship in children and young people.

MICHAEL ROSEN'S 10 COMMANDMENTS
Michael Rosen's '10 Commandments' for schools approach for the arts for young people in those settings.

 

 

More Background on BridgeNorthEast.com

BridgeNorthEast.com served as the digital home for Bridge North East, a regional initiative in North East England dedicated to connecting children and young people with high-quality arts and cultural experiences. Although the website itself is no longer active in its original form, its legacy and the broader context of the Bridge programme remain significant within the UK's cultural and educational landscape. This article provides a detailed exploration of BridgeNorthEast.com by drawing on external sources, reviews, press coverage, and the broader impact of the Bridge Network, without referencing the website's own content.

Background and Origins

BridgeNorthEast.com was the online platform for Bridge North East, one of ten regional "Bridge Organisations" established by Arts Council England (ACE) in 2012. The Bridge Network was created with the mission to strengthen the cultural offer for young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, by working in partnership with schools, arts organizations, museums, libraries, music education hubs, local authorities, and higher education institutions.

The initiative was co-funded by ACE and the Department for Education, with an annual investment of £10 million across the network. Each Bridge Organisation was tasked with developing local cultural provision, brokering partnerships, and facilitating access to arts and culture for children and young people.

The Bridge Network: National Context

The Bridge Network, of which Bridge North East was a part, operated from 2012 to 2023 and played a pivotal role in developing and rationalizing local cultural offers throughout England. The network’s key objectives included:

  • Supporting the formation and growth of Local Cultural Education Partnerships (LCEPs), which brought together educational and cultural organizations to enrich the lives of young people.

  • Acting as connectors and facilitators between schools, local authorities, and cultural providers.

  • Focusing particularly on increasing opportunities for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to engage with arts and culture.

Bridge Organisations were seen as interpreters of practice, values, and expectations, helping to bridge gaps between different sectors and communities.

Bridge North East: Mission and Activities

Mission

Bridge North East’s core mission was to ensure that children and young people in the North East of England could access a vibrant and expanding cultural offer. This involved:

  • Developing sustainable partnership working between schools and cultural organizations.

  • Sharing learning and best practices across the region.

  • Investing resources strategically to maximize impact, particularly in areas of deprivation or limited cultural access.

Key Activities

Bridge North East facilitated a wide range of activities, including:

  • Regional Conversations: Networking events that brought together professionals from the cultural and education sectors to share learning and collaborate.

  • Seminars and Knowledge Exchanges: Opportunities for professional development, sharing of case studies, and dissemination of best practices.

  • Conferences: Large-scale events aimed at inspiring and equipping practitioners to deliver high-quality cultural education.

  • Resource Development: Creation and distribution of toolkits, reports, and teaching resources to support cultural education in schools and communities.

Audience and Reach

The primary audience for Bridge North East included:

  • Children and Young People: Especially those in schools and youth organizations across the North East.

  • Educators: Teachers, school leaders, and youth workers seeking to enrich their curriculum and practice through arts and culture.

  • Cultural Practitioners: Artists, museum professionals, and staff from arts organizations looking to engage with education and community sectors.

  • Local Authorities and Policymakers: Stakeholders interested in the social and economic benefits of cultural engagement for young people.

The Bridge Network’s focus on partnership working meant that its reach extended into nearly every facet of the cultural and educational ecosystem in the region.

Press and Media Coverage

While direct press coverage of BridgeNorthEast.com is limited, the work of the Bridge Network and its regional organizations has been recognized in sector reports and by cultural learning advocacy groups. The Cultural Learning Alliance, for example, highlights the importance of Bridge Organisations in brokering relationships, supporting local partnerships, and ensuring that the cultural needs of young people are met.

The Arts Council England’s annual reports and sector updates have also referenced the impact of the Bridge Network, noting its role in increasing access to high-quality arts education and supporting the professional development of educators and cultural practitioners.

Reviews and Testimonials

Although formal reviews of BridgeNorthEast.com as a website are scarce, feedback on the Bridge Network’s work has been consistently positive among stakeholders:

  • Educators have praised the support and resources provided, noting that Bridge Organisations helped them navigate the complexities of integrating arts and culture into the curriculum.

  • Cultural Organizations have valued the networking and partnership opportunities, which often led to collaborative projects and increased engagement with young audiences.

  • Policy Advocates have highlighted the Bridge Network’s role in addressing inequalities in access to culture, particularly for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Cultural and Social Significance

Addressing Inequality

One of the most significant contributions of Bridge North East, and the Bridge Network as a whole, was its focus on social justice. By targeting areas and populations with limited access to arts and culture, the programme sought to level the playing field and ensure that all young people could benefit from creative experiences.

Building Sustainable Partnerships

The emphasis on partnership working created lasting networks between schools, cultural organizations, and local authorities. These partnerships often continued beyond the life of the Bridge programme, embedding a culture of collaboration and mutual support within the region’s cultural sector.

Legacy and Influence

Although the original BridgeNorthEast.com website is now archived, its legacy endures through successor organizations, such as Culture Bridge North East, and through the ongoing work of LCEPs and other local partnerships. The model of regional brokerage and partnership has influenced other initiatives in the UK and internationally, serving as a blueprint for effective cultural education delivery.

Specific Examples and Impact Stories

Local Cultural Education Partnerships (LCEPs)

Bridge North East played a key role in the development of LCEPs, which brought together schools, arts organizations, museums, and community groups to co-create cultural programmes tailored to local needs. These partnerships enabled:

  • The delivery of arts workshops and residencies in schools.

  • Collaborative festivals and exhibitions showcasing young people’s creativity.

  • Professional development for teachers and artists in creative pedagogy.

Case Studies

While specific case studies from Bridge North East are not detailed in external sources, the Bridge Network’s approach typically involved:

  • Mapping local cultural assets and needs.

  • Facilitating joint projects between schools and cultural organizations.

  • Supporting evaluation and sharing of learning to inform future practice.

Transition and Evolution

In 2015, the Bridge function for the North East region was transferred to Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums, operating under the name Culture Bridge North East. This transition ensured continuity of the core mission and allowed for the further development of the region’s cultural education infrastructure.

The Bridge Network itself continued nationally until 2023, adapting to changing policy contexts and funding landscapes, but always retaining its focus on partnership, access, and quality.

Challenges and Criticisms

Like many publicly funded initiatives, the Bridge Network faced challenges, including:

  • Sustainability: Ensuring that partnerships and programmes continued beyond the initial funding period.

  • Measuring Impact: Capturing the long-term benefits of cultural engagement for young people, particularly in terms of educational attainment and wellbeing.

  • Equity: Reaching the most disadvantaged communities and overcoming barriers to participation.

Despite these challenges, the overall consensus is that the Bridge Network made a substantial and lasting contribution to the cultural life of England’s young people.

 

BridgeNorthEast.com, as the digital face of Bridge North East, represented a vital chapter in the story of cultural education in North East England. Through its work as part of the national Bridge Network, it helped to connect thousands of children and young people with transformative arts and cultural experiences, fostered sustainable partnerships, and contributed to a more equitable and vibrant cultural landscape.

The legacy of Bridge North East lives on in the partnerships it forged, the resources it developed, and the inspiration it provided to practitioners and policymakers alike. Its story is a testament to the power of collaboration, the importance of access to culture, and the enduring value of investing in the creativity of young people.

 

BridgeNorthEast.com