For Assembly Newcastle, the fourth of the a-n Assembly events that took place across the UK during 2017, a-n devised a programme of events with Newcastle-based artist Catherine Bertola.

In 2018 Newcastle and Gateshead hosted the Great Exhibition of the North, a celebration of the best art, culture and design in the North of England. What relationship and impact do such mainstream public events – and the institutions behind them – have on the artists who live and work in the city?

Assembly Newcastle examined how artists, their activity and communities help to shape the identity of a city, and how the ‘cultural value’ artists bring can be better articulated to create stable and sustainable infrastructures for artists in the future.

This was complemented by a-n professional development sessions, and plenty of opportunities for networking and discussions with other artists and the a-n team.

Tuesday 13th June

Negotiating with confidence
10.00am – 5.30pm
Vane Gallery, First Floor, Commercial Union House, 39 Pilgrim Street, NE1 6QE

Artists, places and spaces
6.00pm – 9.00pm
Cobalt Studios, 10 – 16 Boyd Street, NE2 1AP

Wednesday 14th June

Ask a-n – advice and guidance surgery
2.00pm – 4.00pm
Ampersand Inventions Fourth Floor, Commercial Union House 39 Pilgrim Street, NE1 6QE

Here and now
6.00pm – 9.00pm
The NewBridge Project, 1st Floor, Carliol House, New Market Street, NE1 6NE