Gateshead Council – Community Events and Creative Engagement
Orbis Community has supported and contributed to a wide range of events across Gateshead, working alongside Gateshead Council, local partners, artists, businesses and residents to bring creativity directly into the life of the town. From the Summer of Fun programme and Saltwell Park’s 150th anniversary celebrations to Easter, Halloween, Great North Run activity and other major events, these projects have created opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to take part, make something and feel part of a shared community experience.
The work has ranged from designing logos, awards, trophies and tote bags to workshops, installations, event support and participatory activities. Thomas Bewick-inspired stamping stations allowed visitors to create their own Made in Gateshead postcards, while Great North Run workshops and other projects connected major regional events with local artists and communities. Gateshead Creative Crawl has become an important part of this approach, linking businesses, cultural venues, community spaces and artists through creative trails woven into events throughout the year. This has encouraged people to move between places, discover new spaces and experience Gateshead through a growing network of creative activity across Easter, Halloween, Christmas and other seasonal programmes.
Orbis Community has also provided temporary studios, workspaces and meeting rooms for artists, partners and organisations involved in crossover projects, giving people space to develop ideas, share resources and work collaboratively before activity reaches the public. Across all of these projects, the aim remains the same: to involve local creatives, residents, students, families, businesses and community organisations in work that feels genuinely connected to Gateshead. Whether through a workshop, a trail, a handmade object, practical support behind the scenes or a major event, each project contributes to the creativity, energy and community spirit of the town.
Over time, that work has placed Orbis Community right at the heart of Gateshead’s creative and community life. We work across schools, colleges, universities, local residents, artists, businesses and community organisations, sometimes at the front of a project and sometimes quietly supporting from behind the scenes. That ability to connect people, spaces, skills and opportunities is a vital part of what we do, helping creative activity grow from within the community and supporting the wider cultural life of Gateshead throughout the year
