News Beat
Artist hub in former Bishop Auckland Home Bargains opens
The Community Artist Hub on Newgate Street opened on Friday, November 14, after months of work. The hub will be led by Jilly Johnston, a local artist and art specialist at The Auckland Project. It will offer a variety of courses, including ceramics, photography, and textiles, in partnership with Bishop Auckland College.
The space will also provide mentoring, training, and exhibition opportunities for emerging artists.
The first floor will be home to a Spanish literature library, which will house nearly 30,000 books. The collection, which will arrive in late November, will take around four months to unpack and catalogue.
The library will support research in art, culture, and faith. Access will be by appointment only via a separate entrance.
The former Home Bargains unit has been transformed by The Auckland Project, having sat empty for several years.
Earlier this year, it was revealed Bishop Auckland has one of the highest percentage of empty shops in County Durham.
Last month, it was revealed that the building was being transformed into an artist hub after months of ongoing work.
The artist hub was funded through the Stronger Towns Fund, administered by Durham County Council, with the Spanish library being funded through a private donation by Jonathan Ruffer, co-founder of The Auckland Project.
Richard Hinch, chief operating officer at The Auckland Project, said: “No. 43 will be a vibrant creative centre for Bishop Auckland. By nurturing local artists, supporting skills, and providing a world-class literary resource, this space brings new cultural opportunities to the community. It strengthens the town’s reputation as a place where art, learning, and heritage come together.”
Nik Welsh, Stronger Town board member, added: “It is great to see the Artists’ Hub launch and another key project in the Stronger Town’s programme come to fruition, signalling an exciting future for the town.
“The Hub will create a platform for local artists, new and existing, to develop, collaborate and showcase their talents. This will see culture and creativity being central to the regeneration of our town.”
Cllr Karen Allison, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for leisure, tourism, regeneration and high street, said the artist hub has transformed an empty unit into an “excellent addition” to Bishop Auckland’s cultural offer.
She added: “We are committed to revitalising our area’s high streets, and we look forward to seeing the Hub go from strength to strength as it attracts new visitors to the town. We would encourage people to go along this weekend and beyond and see what the Hub has to offer.”
