Newcastle Wins Great North Expo Bid

We’re canny chuffed that NewcastleGateshead won the Great North Expo 2018 bid!

It’s fantastic news NewcastleGateshead has beaten tough competition from short listed cities Sheffield, Bradford and Blackpool to host the first Great Exhibition of the North.

The £5m event, spanning two months in the summer of 2018, is a celebration of Northern innovation and will promote creativity in the region while attracting thousands of visitors to the area.

The festival will have a “Blazing World – The Fires of Invention” theme celebrating the region’s transition from engineering to the digital sector.

We’re very excited for the event, including the reported plans of a “spectacular” opening ceremony on the Quayside featuring “a bridge of illuminating drones” over the River Tyne. Along with projection beamed onto the Sage showcasing the North’s inventive heritage.

Plans also include three themed walking circuits focusing on arts, design and innovation. While pop-up galleries will exhibit art works from across the North, and an educational “summer camp” will be hosted in Exhibition Park.

Finally, the aptly named Great North Museum: Hancock will be at the event’s core hosting an exhibition on Northern pioneers and innovators.

We can’t wait to see what other plans may unfold. What a great opportunity for Geordies to show off our famous warm welcome, impressive bridges and just overall great cultural city!