Finding a 'new normal' for Hartlepool's creative industries - new project helping music, theatre, culture and arts sector through the pandemic

The blue light which shines every night from the Town Hall Theatre

Creative Social is a project looking to create an online community for businesses to access support and share skills specifically related to the cultural industries in Tees Valley in response to the Covid-19 outbreak.

The cultural sector has been among the hardest hit by the pandemic, with music and theatre venues likely to be among the last to reopen – and facing an uncertain future under whatever arrangements can be made to allow them to do so under social distancing.

RELATED: iPad art lockdown venture pays off for Hartlepool artist Philippa

Performers, artists and venues of all kinds have been trying innovative ways of continuing their work through the lockdown.

The Creative Social project started out as an idea to connect creative businesses and freelancers in Hartlepool through events in the town’s cultural venues, but has been altered for online due to coronavirus.

The project has been commissioned by Hartlepool Borough Council as part of the Great Place Tees Valley scheme, delivered via the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority.

It will feature a series of commissioned think pieces and online question and answer events, to be accessed online by anyone.

It will also feature one-to-one mentoring sessions offered to Hartlepool based organisations, designed to help plan for the uncertain future.

The project is being delivered by Empty Shop, a not-for-profit arts organisation and practice-based consultancy from the North East.

Carlo Viglianisi, director of Empty Shop, said: “At this time, it’s important to respond to the ‘new reality’ of the Covid-19 world whilst maintaining the core objectives of building a critical mass of creative talent in Hartlepool and empowering the local sector.

RELATED: Find out why a blue light is shining out of Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre every night

“More than ever, it is important to build resilience and capacity within Hartlepool’s cultural sector – ensuring students and practitioners are equipped to prosper in, what will be, a very different landscape in the months ahead.”

Topics to be covered include festivals, music, theatre and film, and sessions will be delivered by industry experts with international experience.

The first piece of work is from festivals and events expert Paul Gudgin called What is the ‘New Normal’? and focuses on how the industry will need to adapt, drawing on historical evidence.

The think piece is available now on the Hartlepool Creatives Facebook site and a Q&A will take place tonight at 6:30pm, with booking via https://bit.ly/2WTMUI5.

Coun Shane Moore, Hartlepool Borough Council Leader and Tees Valley Combined Authority Cabinet Lead for Culture praised the support the project will offer.

He said: “This is a difficult time for businesses, organisations and groups of all stripes, and we need to make sure our vital culture sector is robust enough and fully prepared to face the future head-on.

“This fantastic new project will give our creatives access to a wealth of experience and advice to make sure they have all the support they need to continue their craft, ensure their livelihoods and play their part in securing Tees Valley’s economy.”

To find out more visit https://www.facebook.com/hartlepoolcreatives/

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.