N18 Artist Programme – Compilation Film
As the Great Exhibition of the North wraps up, I’ve just completed one of my favourite projects this summer: filming the N18 Artist Programme for NewcastleGateshead Initiative.
It’s been a brilliant few months documenting artists immersed in creative collaboration and discovering how digital tools can transform their practice — and how they define themselves as artists.
Launched in 2018, the Great Exhibition of the North was a landmark cultural event celebrating the creativity, innovation, and pioneering spirit of Northern England. Held across NewcastleGateshead, it featured a vibrant programme of exhibitions, installations, performances, and events showcasing art, design, and technology from across the region. At its heart was the ambition to tell “The Story of the North,” highlighting how Northern ideas and talent have shaped—and continue to shape—the world. For emerging artists like those in the N18 Artist Programme, it offered a unique platform to develop new work, connect with audiences, and become part of a wider narrative about the North’s cultural identity and future.
Between June and August, the N18 Artist Programme brought together 18 talented creative practitioners from across the North East to NewcastleGateshead, connecting them with mentors, workshops, and hands-on experiences in digital technologies. For many, it was a gateway to a vibrant Newcastle art scene that’s increasingly embracing innovation. As one artist shared:
“The main thing that I got out of the project was the confidence to start working with digital technology… It’s expanded my practice in lots of different directions while simultaneously helped me refine what I’m doing.”
Digital Art in the Newcastle Art Scene
Throughout the ten-week programme, artists were encouraged not just to learn new tools but to integrate digital elements into performance, storytelling, and visual arts. For some, it meant uniting existing passions—like ceramics and digital design—into new hybrid art forms:
“I was always interested in combining my digital skills with making ceramics. I felt empowered to be able to reunite two different skills that I didn’t use before in this kind of context.”
Others explored entirely new technologies, such as projection mapping and augmented reality:
“It seems really helped me to develop my practice by introducing me to new technologies that have allowed me to add a digital element to my work, specifically in my case, augmented reality.”
These developments are helping shape the future of digital artists in Newcastle, opening new possibilities for how art is experienced across the city and the broader North East.
Creative Collaboration Among North East Artists
A core theme of the programme—and one that shone through the interviews I filmed—was the power of creative collaboration. Artists spoke of gaining confidence not only in digital skills but in connecting and working with others. Many mentioned how initially intimidating technology felt, but how working alongside fellow artists made it more accessible. One participant explained:
“I used to be really scared of digital, but now I’m not. I think of it as a tool in my toolbox and I’m not scared to ask questions about it. And I’m not scared to give something a go.”
The creative community in NewcastleGateshead played a crucial role in fostering this confidence. Participants highlighted how valuable it was to collaborate with mentors and peers across disciplines, creating connections that will continue well beyond the programme. As one artist put it:
“The best thing about being part of N18 was working with people who are not afraid to take risks, and encourage me to do the same.”
Becoming an Artist in Newcastle’s Creative Community
For some participants, N18 was transformative in a personal sense, helping them finally identify as artists. A few described how the programme shifted their mindset:
“Before I started this project, I wouldn’t have considered myself an artist. And really, it’s given me the confidence to say that and to also open up the possibility for collaboration, which I never would have considered before.”
“Before, I guess I wouldn’t really call myself an artist, but I guess I am since doing this N18 project.”
That’s the power of programmes like N18: they don’t just teach technical skills—they build networks, confidence, and a sense of belonging within the thriving North East artists community.
Looking Ahead
Although the Great Exhibition of the North is coming to an end, the legacy of the N18 Programme continues. Many participants plan to keep exploring digital art, apply for more residencies, and collaborate further. They’re determined to keep contributing to the energy and innovation defining the Newcastle art scene.
As a filmmaker, it’s been a privilege to document this journey. The conversations, experiments, and personal breakthroughs I filmed during N18 prove how creative collaboration drives not only art but community and personal growth. It’s exciting to think about how these artists will continue shaping the cultural landscape of NewcastleGateshead and the North East in the years to come.
If you’d like to see more of my films featuring artists and their creative journeys, visit my Artist Films collection.