Into the Light, a fully funded arts and culture partnership programme, has launched a new series of events bringing local artists and creatives together to help shape the future of County Durham’s cultural sector.
The inaugural event in the Spotlight Series took place recently at Durham University. It brought together artists, freelancers and cultural organisations from across the county to reflect on what makes County Durham’s creative scene distinctive, what is already working well, and where further support is needed to ensure the sector can thrive.
The event created space for open discussion and shared reflection. Attendees celebrated recent achievements, including the success of the Into the Light programme so far, while also considering the challenges facing creative practice locally. Conversations focused on confidence, visibility, and how to ensure people of all ages and backgrounds can see a future for themselves in the arts.
The Spotlight Series comes at a critical moment for the cultural sector. Rising costs, shifts in funding, and ongoing pressures on creative livelihoods are being felt acutely at both the local and national levels. In this context, programmes like Into the Light play a vital role in bringing people together, supporting creative practitioners, and enabling long-term thinking about resilience and growth.
Peterlee-born comedian, public speaker and artist, Alfie Joey, joined the panel as keynote speaker at the event. He spoke about his career journey to date and reinforced how creative collaboration is the key to success.
Alfie said: “There are so many exciting things happening across our region, but too often they remain best-kept secrets. The North East has incredible talent and creativity, and I believe we’re at our strongest when we’re not working in silos and we collaborate as one.
“My background is in comedy, and I know first-hand how hard it can be to break into the industry. That’s why inclusion really matters – across all art forms. When we value every kind of creativity and learn from what’s already working across the region, we create stronger pathways and more opportunities for people to build careers here in County Durham. We should be proud of what’s happening in our county and be bold about telling that story, far and wide.”
Programme Director Julia Handelman-Smith said: “Into the Light has always been about people and place. It is about creating opportunities rooted in County Durham, while connecting to wider national and international conversations. As the programme evolves, it feels important to pause and listen.
“The Spotlight Series marks the start of a wider conversation about how we build on what is working, learn from what we have delivered so far, and respond to the creativity we see across the county.”
Insights gathered through the Spotlight Series will directly inform the development of a case for creative futures in the County Durham cultural sector. This document will articulate shared priorities, evidence the impact of creative investment in County Durham, and support future funding bids at a time when sustained investment in culture is urgently needed. By exploring new approaches to investment, partnership and place-based working, the programme is contributing evidence to national conversations about culture, skills, wellbeing and long-term economic growth.
Lewis Hobson, a local artist who attended the event, said: “Into the Light has supported me from early in my career as an artist to where I am now. Having access to experience, resources and real support makes a huge difference – not just for creatives individually, but for communities. Programmes like this provide a space for people to grow, take risks and imagine what’s possible.
“The Spotlight event felt like a genuine opportunity to reflect on the cultural sector as a whole, what Into the Light has made possible so far, and to help shape what happens next for creatives working in County Durham.”
Julia concluded: “As the first event in the Spotlight Series, this gathering marks an important step in shaping the next phase of Into the Light. Future events will continue to centre on creative voices, strengthen connections across the sector, and help articulate a shared vision for what comes next.”
The next Spotlight event will invite more participation from the creative community, with the date due to be announced in the coming weeks.
Funded by Durham County Council, the National Lottery through Arts Council England, and the UK Government through the Shared Prosperity Fund, Into the Light continues to demonstrate the power of culture to support opportunity, wellbeing and pride of place across County Durham.