Tuesday 14 March 2017
NewcastleGateshead Initiative has today announced the creative team behind the Great Exhibition of the North, which is set to be one of the largest cultural events to take place in England in 2018.
Three of the cultural industry’s leading figures are now in place to drive forward the delivery of the project with Carol Bell as Executive Director, Maria Bota as Creative Producer and Sarah Munro as Creative Spokesperson.
Telling the story of the North’s trailblazing role in shaping the world today and the economy of tomorrow, the Great Exhibition of the North will celebrate the great art, culture, design and innovation of the North of England – engaging a national and international audience, entertaining and exciting visitors, transforming global perceptions and inspiring generations to come.
Carol Bell has taken up the role of Executive Director for Great Exhibition of the North, building on her extensive experience and contacts as Director of Culture and Major Events at NewcastleGateshead Initiative. Carol will lead the development of the Exhibition and oversee all areas of activity, including the creative direction, content, fundraising and stakeholder management.
Carol has played a leading role in the delivery of some of the biggest cultural events to take place in the North East in recent years, including the culture10 festivals and events programme from 2005-2010. She leads the team responsible for animating the destination with a range of cultural activity around major events including Olympic Football and Rugby World Cup 2015, as well as delivering a core programme of festivals including Juice Festival for Children and Young People and NewcastleGateshead Winter Festival, (which includes Enchanted Parks and New Year’s Eve celebrations).
As well as being a key delivery partner and venue for Great Exhibition of the North, BALTIC’s Director Sarah Munro will draw on 20 years’ experience of cultural leadership, working with a host of globally successful artists and events, to help sell the Exhibition on a national and international stage as Creative Spokesperson. In addition to her current role, Sarah enjoyed an eminent career in Glasgow as both Artistic Director of Tramway and Head of Arts for the city. She has commissioned and produced over 200 exhibitions, performances and offsite projects and led the bid to bring Turner Prize 2015 to Scotland for the first time.
Building on the collaborative approach for Great Exhibition of the North, the core creative team also includes key personnel from delivery partners Great North Museum: Hancock, Sage Gateshead and Newcastle University. Iain Watson is Director of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums, who manage the Great North Museum. Iain was critical in securing the Great Exhibition of the North, working with the team at NewcastleGateshead Initiative to build the original bid. Abigail Pogson is Managing Director at Sage Gateshead and Prof. Roy Sandbach is Director of the National Innovation Centre for Ageing at Newcastle University. All three bring a wide-range of expertise to the table and will help shape the creative programme
Finally, Maria Bota has been recruited to lead the creative content development in the role of Creative Producer. An experienced culture professional who has delivered a wide range of large-scale events including, Ageas Salisbury International Festival and Milton Keynes International Festival, Maria brings a wealth of experience and a unique mix of skills and expertise to the role. Maria will be responsible for curating and commissioning the opening and closing celebrations for the Exhibition and three walking routes, which will showcase design, arts and innovation, bringing together major Exhibition sites across the destination.
Carol Bell, Executive Director of the Great Exhibition of the North, said: “From the very beginning a team approach has been critical to securing and delivering the Great Exhibition of the North. Our partners and friends across NewcastleGateshead have been hugely supportive so I am thrilled that the formation of our creative team builds on this partnership approach.
“Together, we will bring a wealth of complementary knowledge and experience to the project, to drive forward a creative vision that can deliver on the Great Exhibition of the North’s core objectives to showcase to a global audience the outstanding culture, design, art and innovation from across the North, revealing how it has shaped our lives for the better and drives forward our future. Now our focus is on commissioning and curating exciting work to build an unparalleled programme of activity.”
The Great Exhibition of the North will take place across NewcastleGateshead in the summer of 2018 (from 22 June until mid-September).
Maria Bota, Creative Producer, said: “In recent years my work has concentrated on creative visioning, commissioning, programming and producing across all art forms, indoors, outdoors and online. I believe culture can transform people and places, producing inspiring experiences that resonate for life. The Great Exhibition of the North is a fantastic opportunity, to not just celebrate the many fantastic creative assets of the North, but to inspire future generations and I’m delighted to take on the exciting role of Creative Producer.”
Sarah Munro, Creative Spokesperson, said: “The North is a hive of ideas and home to world-leading arts venues and universities. The Great Exhibition of the North will allow us to uncover the beating heart of our creative industries and to tell the stories of the people and organisations who drive northern innovation on a national and international stage, inside and out of our already world-class infrastructure. I’m delighted to be part of this creative team, to help shape how the Exhibition develops, and to tell our story to the world.”
The Exhibition will take place across NewcastleGateshead in a combination of indoor and outdoor locations, including cultural settings, iconic visitor attractions, world leading universities and cutting edge businesses. Three walking routes showcasing design, arts and innovation tie the sites together.
Along the routes, visitors will have the opportunity to explore mini exhibitions and performances both in venues and out on the streets; this will involve new commissions, exhibitions and programme gathered from across the North. The trails, and the content along them, will take visitors on a journey of Northern discovery in the reinvented, regenerated landscape of NewcastleGateshead.
There will also be a large scale opening programme, a summer camp for families at Exhibition Park, a business expo, and big celebration at the end of it all.
For more information and to register for updates visit Great Exhibition of the North website