Meet our Partners
Our diverse programme of nature-inspired arts activities wouldn’t be possible without the hard work of our amazing partners, the organisations and artists who have filled Springbank Pavilion with an exciting selection of workshops and self-led activities.
Workshop Partners
Curious Arts
Curious Arts is a Newcastle Gateshead based charity championing and developing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual + arts, artists and audiences across the North East of England and beyond. Curious Arts co-ordinate queer arts network Queer Arts North and develop community-focused arts projects and events throughout the year, in partnership with cultural and community organisations from across the region.
Gem Arts
GemArts is an award-winning arts organisation based in the North East of England. A nationally recognised leader in the South Asian and diversity arts sector, GemArts creates and programmes high quality concerts, events, festivals, workshops, and commissions with regional, national, and international artists across all art forms.
Chilli Arts Studios
Chilli Studios promote the power of creativity to empower individuals to challenge internal and external perceptions of mental health. Valuing everyone’s unique personal expression, inspiring people to take creative chances, build skills and celebrate achievements. They deliver creative-based services to those who are, or are at risk of experiencing mental health problems, and those who experience other forms of social exclusion within their communities.
Artists
David de la Haye
David de la Haye is a contemporary musician, field recordist, sound technician and producer. His current work investigates the role of creative arts in raising the cultural value of marine and freshwater environments.
A member of the award-winning technical team at Newcastle University, David has developed an eclectic collaborative portfolio which includes international tours, artist residencies, educational workshops, and public installation. He has produced works for Sound and Music, British Ecological Society, BBC Radio, and COP26 at Glasgow Science Centre. He is based in Durham and sits on the Cultural Committee for D2025, Durham County’s UK City of Culture team.
Lady Kitt
Kitt is an artist & drag king based in Newcastle. They describe their work as “driven by a sense of insatiably curiosity about collaborative creativity”. Kitt invites others to join them in creating objects, interactions & events. Things that have happened as part of their work are: a travelling shrine to sustainability (made from plastic waste), policy changes & an international, feminist art magazine for, and by, children.
Kitt is Trustee for Crafts Council UK, & a founding member of disabled artist-led “kin collective”. Kitt’s work has been shown at Atlanta Contemporary (USA), Centre for Restorative Justice (USA) and Saatchi Gallery London (UK).
Sheree Angela Matthews
Sheree Angela Matthews is Creatrix: she who makes, from Bradford. With a practice which manifests through poetry, storytelling, image and the unfolding histories of Black people. Sheree engages audiences around Black women’s voices and bodies, black feminism, ecology and memory, nature and wellbeing, trauma and healing. She advocates for Black women’s voices, facilitating national and international creative workshops and retreats in the landscape, encouraging and supporting women on their journey of remembrance back to their bodies and authentic selves.
Sheree is currently practicing around the BALTIC commission creating visual journaling spreads focusing on her Black body with/in Nature.
Sofia Barton
Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Sofia Barton is a multidisciplinary artist who creates contemporary artwork which is influenced by nature and heritage.
Her artwork is often comprised of bright colour palettes which are heavily inspired by her Punjabi culture. Influenced by rich textiles,architecture and vintage matchboxes. Inspired by everyday objects she creates pieces depicting backgrounds and context of places, merging the traditional with a careful study of a modern society.
Sofia is an avid speaker for feminism, LGBTQIA+ and the difficulties ethnic minorities face. She has been on BBC Newcastle and is often involved in campaigns for charity.
