HIYA
MAKING CHANGE THAT LASTS
Photo credit: Photographer Alex Zawadzki‘Above Below Beyond’ Youth Panel and Banner. Project by Jamie Holman
No More Nowt works to engage local people in creative activities and grow arts provision in ways that are sustainable and can last, focusing on parts of County Durham where involvement in creativity and culture is significantly below the national average.
We aim to attract more people to choose, create and take part in brilliant art experiences in the places where they live.
No More Nowt was founded in 2014 (formerly known as East Durham Creates) as one of Arts Council England’s 39 national Creative People & Places projects.
Each programme is completely unique to its place, created in collaboration with the local community.
We have engaged almost 150,000 people in experiencing, shaping and creating arts and culture about the place they live over almost 10 years.
In that time our programme has brought £4.6 million of cultural investment into ‘Left Behind Neighbourhoods’ in County Durham.
No More Nowt, formerly East Durham Creates, relaunched our brand and mission in Newton Aycliffe’s The Big Club in September 2023. This is a snapshot of this lively event.
BUILDING ON STRONG FOUNDATIONS
‘Apollo’ installation by Steve Massam, video by WeLove Media.
Our programme continues to evolve and we’re excited to share more details of this year’s projects soon.
Over the years, we’ve tried lots of different things by experimenting, taking risks, listening, and making changes.
We couldn’t have achieved anything without the support and trust from local residents, community organisations, numerous partners and our amazing creative community.
Here’s a quick look at some of the highlights so far…
Over 130,000 people shaping, creating and experiencing art.
Local young people organised and staged events with professional artists and performers in local venues during the ‘No More Nowt Happens’ project, with almost 100 young people were involved in the project.
Commissioned ‘If These Walls Could Talk’ an art exhibition inspired by everyday home life across East Durham, particularly older people at risk of isolation. The event achieved an estimated 5,900 visitors and over 109,659 digital engagements, with a total of 48 volunteers kindly donating 173 hours of time to the event.
‘Above Below Beyond’, co-produced by artist Jamie Holman and creative producer Alex Zawadzki, with the input of local people from East Durham, with 8 workshops taking place generating 124 learning experiences. The project focused on encouraging local pride in young people.
Marked five decades of the Sunny Blunts Estate and the anniversary of the moon landing, with an installation by Steve Messam, Zine workshops led by Theresa Easton (over 474 participants took part in over 26 workshops) and celebrations within the community including a light installation and music by Barry Hyde from The Futureheads.
Developed a Covid-19 response that offered alternate activities to in-person events, still within the spirit of the project, as well as adapting our output to collaborate with East Durham Trust and Our Community Hub’s support and outreach programmes.
Revamped the Cultural Hubs programme to facilitate a wider range of arts events, including spoken word nights, bespoke theatre productions and outdoor theatre and dance performances.
‘Neon and That’ in Dawdon Youth & Community Centre with artists Stuart Langley and Mick Stephenson. Over 80 young people from the centre created their own artwork and designed a special ‘Neon and That’ night.
Working with artists, testing how to develop new approaches in making art in communities including ‘The Pan Hag’ by Gayle Chong Kwan, which featured on BBC’s Countryfile, ‘From Out A Darker Sea’ by So Percussion, shortlisted for a Journal Culture Award and VoiceOver by Umbrellium.