Facilities & Recreation Committee – July 14th 2026
Spennymoor Town Council Facilities & Recreation Committee Order of Business - Meeting to be held July 14th 2026
On Sunday 8th March, Spennymoor Town Hall will join with His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of County Durham, Dame Susan Snowdon DCVO and Jill Cole, Director of Northern Heartlands and Chair of Culture Durham, for an event bringing together inspiring speakers, artists and residents for a morning of reflection, conversation and artistic expression.
Guests will hear from Michelle Cooper, CEO of Point North – a place-based charity and that has distributed more than £75m to charities and grassroots organisations across the region. North East mural artist Nocciola the Drawer (Hazel Oakes), founder of STRIKE Collective, will talk about her role in a women-led creative group supporting 25 County Durham artists.
During the event, STRIKE Collective will invite attendees to contribute to a live collaborative artwork, celebrating collective voice and shared experience.
The morning will include an exclusive preview of the forthcoming exhibition “Echoes of Her North: The Quiet Architects of Our Communities”, which opens to the public in the Bob Abley Gallery on 9th March.
Jill Cole, Chair of Culture Durham and director of Northern Heartlands CIC is delivering the event alongside Debbie Connell, Town Council Community & Culture Manager.
Jill said: “What a great opportunity to celebrate the extraordinary contribution women continue to make across communities and our cultural landscape. As artists, leaders and speakers, these women represent the depth of talent, resilience and creativity that exists across the North East.
“On International Women’s Day, it’s great to highlight the influential roles women have played through history, shaping our culture and to amplify the voices of those championing the arts today.”
The exhibition explores identity, place and female strength rooted in the North’s landscape and heritage, celebrating often-overlooked women whose resilience and influence shaped communities for generations.
Featured works include:
- Seven large-scale portraits by artist Jilly Johnson
- Textile pieces by Richard Bliss, inspired by the lives of the women portrayed
- An immersive soundscape by writer and broadcaster Marie Gardiner
- Community-created artworks developed with artist Jayne Blacklock
The International Women’s Day event runs from 10:00am to 12:30pm at Spennymoor Town Hall, with refreshments and breakfast snacks provided. Tickets are £3 and available via Eventbrite: Event details and sign-up
“Echoes of Her North” will run from 9th March to 1st August and is free to visit. This event promises to be a powerful celebration of women’s voices, creativity and lasting impact across the North East.
