Arts & Exhibitions in Newcastle and the North East

Free Gallery North festival to delight poetry lovers

POETRY lovers can enjoy a taste of Scotland and Jamaica next week when Newcastle plays host to a free festival event featuring writer Kei Miller.

Host of strange objects on show at Preston Hall

MIKE BLACKBURN looks at two new exhibitions in the Tees Valley area

Joan Bakewell latest in literary line-up

DAME Joan Bakewell will be in conversation with poet Jackie Kay this evening in the latest event organised by the Newcastle Centre for the Literary Arts.

Shipley Art Gallery open for work and play

TWO new developments are to be unveiled this month at the Shipley Art Gallery in Gateshead.

Chinese treasures go on display in Sunderland

THE history and culture of China are explored in an exhibition which opened at the weekend.

Review: Maddi Nicholson: Going Home form Here, Tullie House Art Gallery, Carlisle

MADDI Nicholson is an artist who never fails to surprise.

Night Train, Queen's Hall, Hexham

IF we needed any further convincing of the wealth of local talent in the North East then it is illustrated – literally and quite beautifully – in new book Night Train

The Northern Print biennale art tour

See art and get fit is the message, as David Whetstone embarks on the Northern Print Biennale tour

Preview: Ben Okri at the Festival of African Writing

BOOKER award-winner Ben Okri will be launching his new work, Tales of Freedom, in Newcastle this evening.

Marianne North, Preston Hall Museum, Stockton

A rare chance to see Victorian paintings by Marianne North

Housegroups

Aether and Hemera: Dreamt Vessels

Lee Dobson: North East Landscapes

Deborah Cauchi: Unspoken Dialogue

Johnny Jetstream, Michelle Hobby: Detour