Hexham has been named the United Kingdom’s first designated Arts Town, with organisers promising a town-wide celebration of the new national status at Easter next year.
The title was unveiled at a Community Arts Fair at Queen’s Hall on Saturday, October 10. The announcement makes Hexham the first and only designated Arts Town in the United Kingdom, according to organisers behind the initiative.
How Hexham secured the designation
The announcement follows more than 18 months of public engagement and planning led by the Hexham Cultural Forum. The partnership includes Hexham Town Council, the Forum Cinema, Queen’s Hall, Theatre Sans Frontières, the library service, North East Museums Service, Hexham Abbey and Hexham Community Centre.
The forum’s initiative brings together a wide range of cultural organisations and community partners already active in the town. Hexham’s cultural assets include an independent cinema, arts centre, library, museum and medieval abbey, alongside music projects and a community of artists, makers, performers and independent businesses.
Penny Grennan, deputy mayor of Hexham Town Council, described the announcement as a significant development for the town.
“It's incredibly exciting that Hexham has become the first Arts Town in the UK, the benefits could be huge.”
She said the organisers had examined successful Arts Town models in Europe and North America before concluding that Hexham already had the necessary foundations for the idea.
“We looked to successful Arts Town models in Europe and North America and realised that Hexham already has all the ingredients needed to make this vision a reality.”
What happens next
The Community Arts Fair was described as a soft launch rather than the main public celebration. A larger town-wide event is expected at Easter next year, giving residents and visitors a further opportunity to mark Hexham’s new status.
“Saturday's announcement was a soft launch, and we're now looking forward to a town-wide celebration of our unique status at Easter next year.”
The Hexham Cultural Forum believes the designation could raise the profile of cultural activity already taking place, attract new events and bring more visitors and investment to the area. The forum also says the arts can support happiness and wellbeing.
Hexham’s existing programme includes Spook Night, fireworks displays, the Lantern Parade, a Christmas Market, music and book festivals, plus workshops and regular classes. Activities range from painting and pottery to drama, media arts and poetry.
The town is also home to Bloodaxe Books, identified in the source as the publisher of this year’s Nobel Prize for Literature winner, Anne Carson. Together with its established venues, festivals and creative community, that activity forms the backdrop to Hexham’s new designation.
The Easter celebration is expected to further highlight the town’s national Arts Town status.