Putting heart into the art in Spennymoor Town Hall

Debbie Connell, the Town Council’s new Community and Culture Manager/Curator, has secured a host of new artists, created themed areas of the gallery and is working up plans for new interactive art space in the much-loved Town Hall gallery.

Debbie, who started her new role in April, is responsible for developing and delivering the town’s cultural programme – which includes overseeing the Bob Abley Art Gallery, productions on the Council’s main hall – and the Council’s extensive events programme, that includes Party in the Park, Armed Forces Day and the annual Fireworks Spectacular.

“Spennymoor is so lucky to have this incredible gallery and one of the first things I wanted to do was reconfigure it to ensure it helped connect people and communities and bring in those people who think “Galleries are not for me”,” said Debbie.

“I genuinely believe that having an appreciation of, and enjoying art is for everyone, so we focused on giving the work room to breathe, moving around some old favourites, creating sections of the gallery that follow certain themes and ensuring work is regularly rotated to create space for new artists to come and show their work.

“With so few places available for local and regional artists to exhibit, with many closing down in recent years, this is an incredibly valuable commodity and it’s up to us to make the most of it.

“The new artists we have brought in have added real vibrancy and splashes of colour to the gallery, and we’ve placed them in areas of the gallery that best showcase their impact, or among work that complements the themes they draw inspiration from – I think visitors will notice a real change.”

Debbie has spent her entire career working in the arts and culture sector and comes to Spennymoor Town Council from Durham County Council, for which she worked as Cultural Engagement Officer – overseeing the refurbishment of Bishop Auckland Gallery – and before that at King James Academy in Bishop Auckland, as International Development Coordinator & Community Manager.

To coincide with the new artists, work and layout of the gallery, the Town Council is launching “Fresh Perspective: a new exhibition featuring exciting regional artists”. Alongside the town’s own amazing Spennymoor talent – such as Norman Cornish, Bob Heslop, Joanne Mitchell and The Rock Brothers – the exhibition will feature the work of renowned regional artists including Kevin Day, Anthony Marshall, Bernie Wisniewski, Jim Edwards and Jenny Ulyatt

“I would urge everyone to come along and experience the new work in “Fresh Perspectives,” added Debbie.

“Art is for everyone and with themes of social history, sport, local scenes and landmarks and the incredible work of Cornish still taking centre stage, there is something for everyone to enjoy.”