We stand to denounce racism in all its forms.
We, the undersigned from the cultural sector of the North East, declare that silence is not ok and silence is seen as complicity. Racism has no place in a just and humane society.
Whilst we cannot undo pain and neglect, we are calling on all of us in the arts, cultural, heritage sectors; professional and voluntary to work together to address racism and its deep roots. We must listen, have conversations and most importantly act, we know we need to do better. Everyone is part of the solution - artists, staff, trustees, partners, promoters, audiences and communities.
We want to tackle this together in sharing better understanding and practices. We stand united to bring about change in our thinking and actions as a collective of organisations and individuals.
In the weeks and months to come we will collectively act to build on this statement with concrete steps and actions to demonstrate our commitment to bringing about real change. We ask you to stand with us.
If you would like to join us in these future conversations please contact any of the points of contacts listed below:
Alphabetti Theatre Signee: Ali Pritchard, Artistic/Executive Director Contact: Ali Pritchard, ali@alphabettitheatre.co.uk
The Angelou Centre Signee: Rosie Lewis, Deputy Director & VAWG Services Manager
Anna Robinson Sceneographer Contact: anna.fkrobinson@gmail.com
ARC Stockton Signee: Annabel Turpin Contact: Annabel.Turpin@arconline.co.uk
Arts&Heritage Stephanie Allen, Executive Director Contact: info@artsandheritage.org.uk
Assembly Rooms Theatre Durham Signee: Kate Barton Contact: theatre.manager@durham.ac.uk
BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art Signee: Sarah Munro, Director Contact: Caroline Murphy, carolinem@balticmill.com
Ben Dickenson Contact: benji.dickenson@gmail.com Executive Producer, City of Dreams / Associate Literary Producer Alphabetti
Beverley Prevatt Goldstein Signee: Beverley Prevatt Goldstein Contact: beverleyprevattgoldstein@gmail.com
Brash Signee: Bethan Kitchen, Artistic Director Cpontact: bethan@brash-events.co.uk
Camisado Club Signee: Caroline Liversidge, Camisado Club Contact: info@camisadoclub.co.uk
Centre for Life, Newcastle Signee: Linda Conlon Contact: Louise Richardson, louise.richardson@life.org.uk
Company of Others Signee: Nadia Iftkhar, Artistic Director & CEO Contact: Nadia Iftkhar, nadia@companyofothers.org.uk
Curious Arts Signee: Phil Douglas, Director Contact: Ellie Puckering, ellie@curiousarts.org.uk
Curious Monkey Signee: Amy Golding Contact: amy@curiousmonkeytheatre.com
Creative Seed Contact: Sandy and Garner Harris, Founding Directors
D6 Culture in Transit Clymene Christoforou, Director
Dance City Signee: Phil Douglas Contact: Phil Douglas, phil.douglas@dancecity.co.uk
Degna Stone Poet and editor
Disconsortia Signee: Lisette Auton, Co-founding Member Contact: disconsortia@gmail.com
Ednie Wilson Gateshead
Gateway Studio CIO Signee: Martin Hylton, Artistic Director/CEO Contact: Martin Hylton, martin.hylton@gatewaystudioproject.co.uk
GemArts Signee: Vikas Kumar MBE, Director Contact: Vikas Kumar, vikas@gemarts.org
Gobscure Signee: Sean Burn Contact: gobscure@posteo.net
Gosforth Civic Theatre Contact: info@gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk
Harambee Pasadia CIC Signee: Hannabiell Sanders Contact: Hannabiell Sanders, harambeepasadia@gmail.com
Kitchen Zoo Signee: Bob Nicholson Contact: info.kitchenzoo@gmail.com
Ladies of Midnight Blue Signee: Yilis Suriel Contact: Yilis Suriel, yilissuriel@gmail.com
The Letter Room Signees: Meghan Doyle and Stan Hodgson, Co-Artistic Directors Contact: info@theletterroomtheatre.co.uk
Little Cog Signee: Vici Wreford-Sinnott, Artistic Director Contact: littlecog@rocketmail.com
Live Theatre Signee: Jim Beirne, Chief Executive Contact: joe@live.org.uk
Luxi Signee: Caroline Pearce Contact: cp@luxicreative.co.uk
Melody Sproates Artist/Performer Contact: melodysproates@hotmail.com
Mortal Fools Signee: Kiz Crosbie, Artistic Director/CEO Contact: kiz@mortalfools.org.uk
The NewBridge Project Signee: Rebecca Huggan, Director Contact: r.huggan@thenewbridgeproject.com
New Writing North Claire Malcolm, Chief Executive Contact: Claire Malcolm, office@newwritingnorth.com
Newcastle City Council Arts Team Signee: Cllr Ged Bell (Cabinet Member for Culture) Contact: Jim Mawdsley, Arts and Culture Senior Advisor, Jim.Mawdsley@newcastle.gov.uk
Newcastle Theatre Royal Signee: Philip Bernays, Chief Executive
Newcastle University Signee: Professor Julie Sanders, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Contact: Julie.sanders@ncl.ac.uk
Northern Roots Signee: Adam Collerton, Director Contact: adam@northern-roots.org.uk
Northern Stage Signee: Kate Denby, Executive Director Contact: Mark Calvert, MCalvert@northernstage.co.uk
OGRE Contact: Steven Walker, Creative Director
Open Clasp Signees: Joint Chief Executives Catrina McHugh MBE / Ellie Turner Contacts: catrina@openclasp.org.uk, ellie@openclasp.org.uk
Origin Moko Jumbies Signee: Alan Vaughan Contact: alanpvaughan@gmail.com
Sage Gateshead Signee: Abigail Pogson, Director Contact: Wendy Smith, wendy.smith@sagegateshead.com
Sangini Signee: Padma Rao
Seven Stories Signee: John Coburn Contact: Amanda Beckham, amanda.beckham@sevenstories.org.uk
Skimstone Arts Signee: Claire Webster-Saaramets, Director Contact: Claire Webster-Saaramets, claire@skimstone.org.uk
Slugtown Signees: Max Lee and Matt Antoniak, Co-directors
Summer Streets Festival Signee: Ross Millard Contact: hello@summerstreetsfestival.com
Sunderland Music Hub Signee: Lizzie Nixon Contact: sunderland.music@togetherforchildren.org.uk
Susan Ashley AHRC Researcher Contact: susan.ashley@northumbria.ac.uk
Prometheus Foundation CIC Contact: Dot Owston
Tyneside Cinema Signee: Holli Keeble, Chief Executive Officer Contact: Holli Keeble, Holli.Keeble@tynesidecinema.co.uk
Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums Signee: Iain Watson, Director Contact: Bill Griffiths, bill.griffiths@twmuseums.org.uk
Tyne and Wear Cultural Freelancers Signee: Leila d’Aronville Contact: Leila d’Aronville, Leila.daronville@gmail.com
Unfolding Theatre Signees: Michael Barrass, Alex Elliott, Garry Lydon, Annie Rigby and Luca Rutherford Contact: annie@unfoldingtheatre.co.uk
VAMOS! Signee: Nikolas Barrera Contact: nikolasbarrera@gmail.com
Voices of Virtue Gospel Choir Signees: Mathapelo Imarhiagbe, Chinyere Igun, Glen Smiley
We Make Culture CIC Signee: Laura Brewis, Project Director Contact: laura@wemakeculture.co.uk