People and Place: Creative Relay
Sunday 7 September 2025 10am - 4pm
Orbis Community courtyard. Photo: Ella DM
Creative Relay is a free, community-led celebration to mark the AJ Bell Great North Run 2025 taking place at Orbis Community in Gateshead town centre, the route of which passes right outside our front door.
On the day of the run, the entire building and courtyard at 65 High Street will be animated with creative workshops, live music, storytelling, games, exhibitions, and refreshments. The event brings together local organisations, artists, and residents in a joyful, welcoming environment that reflects Gateshead’s community spirit, pride, and creativity.
This is not only a day to support the runners, but also a chance for the people of Gateshead to come together, connect with one another, and feel proud to be part of the town’s vibrant and growing creative identity. This September, the Great North Run isn’t the only thing racing through Gateshead, creativity will be sprinting right alongside it. People & Place: Creative Relay, Running with Bewick will turn Orbis Community and the High Street into a buzzing hub of music, printmaking, games, and shared stories. We’ll swap batons for paint rollers, running shoes for inky hands, and the race route for a tapestry of local landmarks and joyful faces.
From the stirring sound of the Gateshead Sea Cadets marching band to the clatter of print blocks rolling out fresh designs, every corner will be alive with activity. Whether you’re here to make your mark on our giant community artwork, play a game in the courtyard, dance to a DJ set, or simply enjoy a coffee while cheering on the runners, you’ll be part of Gateshead’s most creative celebration of the year. And just like the Great North Run, everyone’s welcome to join in. We are also fundraising on the day towards supporting creative workshops for Gateshead Sea Cadets.
Melanie Kyles, in partnership with Slow Hand Creative Studio, will lead a hands-on 3D pop-up workshop where visitors can design their own mini information or meeting point structure. These imaginative maquettes will explore themes of colour, scale, and place, taking inspiration from the region’s rich heritage. The finished pieces will be documented as part of a future proposal for next year’s event, giving every participant the chance to shape what’s next.
Ben Applegarth and Jonpaul Kirvan will introduce a delicate, tactile installation using laser-engraved templates of iconic structures such as the High Level Bridge, the Millennium Bridge, and The Glasshouse. Visitors will use vibrant threads and brass fixings to weave intricate patterns across the surfaces, creating collaborative mix artworks that mirror the networks of community that move through and around these familiar places.
Orbis Community Press invites you to step into the world of traditional printmaking. With over 50 years of experience, Mick Wootton will guide participants through engraving techniques to create personalised prints inspired by local people and places. Each piece will contribute to a collective wall-mounted artwork, a People and Place tapestry, whilst also giving visitors something unique to take home.
Vane gallery will also host a special Relay Edition exhibition co-created with schools, families, and community groups. The works on display explore identity, movement, heritage, and pride, with stories and reflections drawn from across Gateshead. A giant map of the Great North Run route will anchor the space, dotted with residents' memories, sketches, and messages, a visual reminder of how this iconic event connects so many lives across the region.
Maker Space will have drop-in creative technology and making activities and in the courtyard 586 Records will have curated DJ playlists inspired by running and rhythm and a selection of records to browse and purchase.
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