Member Article

NewcastleGateshead Initiative launches 2007 cultural programme

Destination marketing agency NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI) launched its 2007 cultural programme this week, promising world-class events and festivals across North East England throughout the year. The organisers intend to provide a mix of new events, the return of popular favourites and numerous smaller events which have the capacity to grow in the future.

North East England has also this year been chosen to host Dott 07 (Designs of the time 2007) – the very first national design biennial. Dott 07 will see NGI work in partnership with the Design Council, the national strategic body for design, and regional development agency One NorthEast to transform the region through creativity and design.

2007 will also see NewcastleGateshead stage its first ever food festival, Eat! NewcastleGateshead, showcasing culinary delights from across the region. A weekend of events involving international musicians and local talent is being organised to celebrate St George’s Day, and September will see Tyneside welcome the QE2 as part of the vessel’s 40th anniversary celebrations. Popular events to make a return for 2007 include the Evolution music festival and the NewcastleGateshead Winter Festival. The spotlight will also be shone on new venue openings such as Kielder Observatory designed by Charles Barclay Architects.

Stella Hall, Creative Director, NewcastleGateshead Initiative, said: “2007 promises to be a very thrilling year for North East England. “We are growing festivals which are taking their place on the national and international calendar bringing excitement, variety and diversity to not just those living locally but also to the many thousands of people who visit us from outside of the region and the country each year.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .