Gateshead Central Exchange is a public-facing exhibition space curated by
Vane, Orbis Community and the Northeast Creative Network
Located in Gateshead town centre, the window gallery transforms an old bank building into a platform for contemporary art and creative expression. The gallery is visible to everyone who passes through the town centre. It removes barriers often associated with traditional gallery spaces and invites the public to encounter art as part of everyday life. Creatives exhibiting in the window represent a diverse range of practices, from emerging talent to established practitioners connected to the Northeast and beyond.
The programme reflects the values of collaboration, experimentation and accessibility that underpin the wider Orbis Community network. By presenting art directly within the town centre, the window gallery becomes part of the public realm. It creates a place where creativity meets community. Rather than existing as a single venue, this network of spaces creates a distributed creative hub within the town centre. It demonstrates how creativity can be embedded into the fabric of a place.
Together these spaces form a creative network that surrounds the town centre, bringing cultural activity into the everyday life of the town. Through the work of Orbis Community, Vane and the Northeast Creative Network, these sites support:
Contemporary art exhibitions
Creative workspace and studios
Workshops and skills development
Partnerships with education and community organisations
Public facing cultural activity
“At Orbis Community we believe our role is not to empower people, but to enable them. The talent is already here in our communities. Future engineers, scientists, chefs, dancers, artists, designers, musicians and entrepreneurs are all around us. What people often need is space, opportunity and support. When we create environments where people can share ideas, collaborate and learn from each other, communities grow stronger, healthier and more confident. When we come together, we realise we are all part of something bigger. Together we are stronger.”
Jonpaul Kirvan Director, Orbis Community
Orbis Community enables creativity, collaboration and opportunity at the heart of Gateshead.
The Orbis Community Story:
Orbis Community is a creative hub rooted in Gateshead that turns overlooked spaces into places of creativity, opportunity and connection. We work directly within Gateshead town centre, activating empty buildings and underused spaces through art, culture, enterprise and community activity. Our approach is simple: bring people together, provide space and create the conditions for creativity to grow. Unlike many regeneration projects that begin with strategy documents and top down planning, Orbis Community works from the ground up.
We believe meaningful change happens when local creatives, students, residents and organisations are given real opportunities to contribute to their own place. Our work connects artists, makers, students, entrepreneurs, charities and community organisations. Through affordable workspace, exhibitions, workshops, events and partnerships, we help people develop skills, build networks and share their work with the wider public.
Over the years Orbis Community has supported hundreds of creatives, hosted thousands of visitors and built strong relationships with schools, universities, cultural organisations and public partners. The most important outcome is not numbers. It is the sense of belonging and possibility that emerges when people feel welcome to create and collaborate.
We see creativity as infrastructure. When supported properly, it strengthens local economies, improves wellbeing and helps communities grow stronger together. Orbis Community exists to ensure that creativity remains visible, accessible and rooted in the places where people live.
