Pinwheel

28/01/2026

✨ Solace Shines in Aberdeen! ✨

We’re thrilled to be producing Solace by Amelia Kosminsky for Spectra Festival 2026, Scotland’s Festival of Light!

Originally commissioned for Artichoke’s final Lumiere in 2025, it’s a joy to work with Amelia again and bring her lantern installation to Aberdeen Art Gallery. Solace is a suspended constellation of hand-made lanterns, offering a moment of reflection and comfort - a flicker of light in turbulent times. 🌙

From 5–8 February, Aberdeen will glow with free light installations across Marischal College, Union Terrace Gardens, and more. This new presentation of Solace is produced by Pinwheel, installed by Open Format, and features a meditative soundtrack by Jon Hopkins.

See it in person and experience the magic for yourself!

👉 Learn more: www.spectrafestival.com
📸 Matthew Andrews


Aberdeen Archives, Gallery & Museums

18/12/2025

What a year. ✨

As the year draws to a close, we’re taking a moment to reflect on a chapter that has meant a great deal to us. This year we celebrated something truly special, working in the place we call home. From Durham to Newcastle to North Shields, our North East roots have shaped some of our most meaningful work to date - alongside a diverse range of creative projects, commissions, and collaborations.

Among this year’s many highlights:

🌟 Lumiere Durham - Producing the final edition of this iconic festival was a huge privilege. For our Director, Katy Fuller, it marked a powerful full-circle moment, from being Artichoke’s first employee over 20 years ago to returning to collaborate as Lead Producer for this landmark finale.

🌊 From Our Streets to Our Seas - A vibrant, community-driven project delivered on behalf of Tyneside Cinema, that unfolded across Newcastle and our own patch in North Shields, celebrating creativity, collaboration, and the voices of local people.

Alongside these moments, we’ve been lucky to work with extraordinary artists, partners, creatives, and audiences across a broad span of projects - each one contributing to a rich, inspiring, and wide-ranging year.

As we look ahead to 2026, we’re filled with excitement. New ideas are taking flight, new collaborations are forming, and we can’t wait to share the imaginative journeys to come.

Here’s to more curiosity, creativity and adventure - in the North East and beyond. 💫

📸 Lumiere photography by Matthew Andrews
📸 From Our Streets to Our Seas photography by Richard Lister Photography

19/11/2025

✨ What an unforgettable Lumiere!

What an amazing few days in Durham. As lead producer, Pinwheel is so proud to have helped fill the city with light, colour and unforgettable experiences - from glowing riverside artworks to breathtaking cathedral installations.

Now it’s over to you…
💬 Which artwork was your favourite?
Share your highlights or photos in the comments - we love seeing Lumiere through your eyes.

Lumiere is produced by Artichoke and commissioned by Durham County Council, with support from Arts Council England, the North East Combined Authority, Durham University, Point North, and a raft of funders and supporters.

📷 Matthew Andrews

13/11/2025

💡 Lumiere 2025 lights up Durham tonight!
🗓 Thursday 13 – Saturday 15 November

As Lead Producers for Artichoke for this years Lumiere we've been working with amazing artists over the last few months. From shimmering koi along the river to immersive cathedral installations, this year’s festival is packed with unforgettable artworks around every corner. Sam Wonfor at Cultured. North East shares all the highlights you won’t wFrom shimmering koi along the river to immersive cathedral installations, this year’s festival is packed with unforgettable artworks around every corner. Sam Wonfor at Cultured. North East shares all the highlights you won’t w to miss.

Check out Sam’s full guide to what’s on this year. We can't wait to welcome you!

Lumiere is commissioned by Durham County Council, with support from Arts Council England, the North East Combined Authority, and a raft of funders and supporters.

Flowers, fish and singing ladies await

11/11/2025

✨ Plan Your Visit to LUMIERE 2025 ✨

With over 30 artworks to discover across Durham, it’s time to start planning your Lumiere adventure.

🔗 Explore the Plan Your Visit page on the Lumiere website for everything you need to know - from travel and accessibility to event tips and maps:

👉 lumiere-festival.com/plan-your-visit

💬 While you’re in the city, visit The Arriva Visitor Hub next to Gala Durham to chat with friendly volunteers and learn more about the festival.

📅 Open Saturday 8 to Saturday 15 November.

Pinwheel are working with Artichoke as Lead Producers of Lumiere this year. See you in Durham!

Lumiere, the UK’s light art biennial, is commissioned by Durham County Council with support from Arts Council England, North East Combined Authority, Durham University, Point North and a raft of funders and supporters.

10/11/2025

✨ LUMIERE 2025 - Lighting Up Durham ✨

We’re proud to be working as Lead Producer, supporting our friends at Artichoke to bring the magic of Lumiere to life in Durham this weekend.

Since it began in 2009, Lumiere has welcomed over 1.3 million visitors and become a landmark event in the North East’s cultural calendar.

This 9th edition promises to fill the city with imagination, joy, and light - transforming Durham into an illuminated art gallery from Thursday 13 to Saturday 15 November.

💡 Don’t miss out - there are still some tickets available
👉 Get yours now at www.lumiere-festival.com

Lumiere, the UK’s light art biennial, is commissioned by Durham County Council with support from Arts Council England, North East Combined Authority, Durham University, Point North and a raft of funders and supporters.

22/10/2025

🎧 Get a first listen to Fishing for Memories - one of several new pieces from Staithe, created to accompany an animation by Sheryl Jenkins inspired by the Fish Quay and its people, as part of From Our Streets to Our Seas: Tales of Heritage, Memory & Myth.

The animations will be screened for the very first time at The Salt Market Social on Friday 24 October bringing original songs to life in an unforgettable evening of storytelling through music.

From Our Streets to Our Seas is presented by Tyneside Cinema and Pinwheel, with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England, North Shields 800, North East Combined Authority, and BFI.

📸 Staithe photos taken and edited by Kelly Briggs Atkinson
🎨 Set and art direction by Lady Kitt
📷 Fish Quay images by Richard Lister Photography


North Shields Cultural Quarter I Love North Shields

21/10/2025

🎧 Listen again on BBC Newcastle!

Filmmaker Anthony Gannie, artist and performer Olly Armstrong, and painter and muralist Anthony Downie joined Anna Foster earlier today to chat about their creative journeys and involvement in From Our Streets to Our Seas: Tales of Heritage, Memory & Myth.

Catch up on their inspiring conversation - tune in from 1 hour 23 minutes to hear them discuss heritage, community, and storytelling through film, music, and art. 👇

From Our Streets to Our Seas is presented by Tyneside Cinema and Pinwheel, with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England, North Shields 800, North East Combined Authority, and BFI.

Stories, Music, Life, including The Rewind from 1pm to 2pm with Anna.

18/10/2025

📸 A Photographic Journey Through North Shields from AmberSide’s Collection 🌊

If you're joining us at From Our Streets to Our Seas: Tales of Heritage, Memory & Myth at The Salt Market Social on Friday 24 October, you will be treated to a visual journey through North Shields, curated from AmberSide’s extensive photographic archive documenting working-class life in the North East of England and beyond.

✨ Highlights include iconic work by renowned photographer Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen, including 'North Shields, Step by Step, 1980s' ©Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen, courtesy of Side Gallery | The AmberSide Collection.

Come and explore the streets, the seas, and the stories that make North Shields unique.

From Our Streets to Our Seas is presented by Tyneside Cinema and Pinwheel as part of North Shields 800 celebrations, with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England, North Shields 800, North East Combined Authority, and BFI.


North Shields Cultural Quarter

17/10/2025

🎣✨ From Our Streets to Our Seas presents: Fishing for Memories ✨🎣

Next week, five animated films by Sheryl Jenkins, with music composed by Staithe, will be shown for the first time at From Our Streets to Our Seas: Tales of Heritage, Memory and Myth - a free event at The Salt Market Social, North Shields, on Friday 24 October. The films bring to life stories and poems written by Olly Armstrong and the North Shields Fish Quay community.

🌊 Feast your eyes on these stunning stills from the new animations - a vibrant celebration of local stories, poems, and the spirit of the quay.

From Our Streets to Our Seas is presented by Tyneside Cinema and Pinwheel, as part of North Shields NS800 celebrations, with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England, North Shields 800, North East Combined Authority, and BFI.

16/10/2025

🎬✨ A reel sense of place

“The tides of North Shields carry eight centuries of stories. Tyneside Cinema steps beyond its screens for a collaborative celebration of the Fish Quay and its people.” - Cultured. North East

From Our Streets to Our Seas: Tales of Heritage, Memory & Myth is a creative partnership between Tyneside Cinema and Pinwheel, made with and for the communities of North Shields.

Through film, food, music and storytelling, it captures the spirit of a place where stories wash ashore - and where creativity connects people to their heritage and to each other.

👉 Head over to Cultured North East to read more about how the project came together and what’s still to come...

This event has been made with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England , North Shields 800, North East Combined Authority, and BFI .

I Love North Shields North Shields Cultural Quarter

The tides of North Shields carry eight centuries of stories. Tyneside Cinema steps beyond its screens for a collaborative celebration of the Fish Quay and its people.