Renaissance

The initiative Renaissance in the Regions is a government scheme which is run by the Museums Libraries and Archives Council. There are nine English Regions. Renaissance North East is run by a partnership established in 2003 between Tyne & Wear Museums, Beamish: the North of England Open Air Museum, The Bowes Museum and Hartlepool Arts, Museums and Events Service. The North East are one of only three regions to receive a higher level of funding to develop a comprehensive programme under the scheme.

So what does Renaissance North East do?
The four regional museum partners work together, and with many of the other museums across the North East, to develop new museum services and raise the quality of our services. For example, we pay for museum education and outreach officers, who are working with schools and the public. We fund improved access to museums for the disabled. We are creating new permanent displays, and can get major National and International touring exhibitions to the North East. Hartlepool Arts, Museums and Events leads these improvements in the Tees Valley, working with all it's museums to bring you exciting projects like the ones featured on this site, including the successful Curiosity Shop.

Ultimately, Renaissance North East is making a real difference for museum visitors, old and new, because we are creating new ways for people to enjoy their local museums. Why not become a part of our Renaissance, and visit one of the museums in the Tees Valley? There is a whole new world waiting for you.

The museums in the Tees Valley are:-

Redcar and Cleveland
Kirkleatham Museum
Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum
RNLI Zetland Lifeboat Museum
Guisborough Museum
Winkie's Castle

Stockton-on-Tees
Preston Hall Museum
Green Dragon Yard Museum
Billingham Art Gallery

Hartlepool
Museum of Hartlepool
Hartlepool Art Gallery

Darlington
Darlington Railway Centre and Museum

Middlesbrough
Captain Cook Birthplace Museum
Dorman Museum
Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA)