Our Cultural Venues
Supporting the cultural richness of Newcastle upon Tyne.
Key enablers for research and teaching
Our cultural venues are key enablers for our research and teaching in many subject areas. They are also an important part of our Engagement and Place strategy.
Developing world-leading research with the public
Increasingly our venues are becoming hubs of interdisciplinary research. They're taking our world-leading research to a public audience. In 2021-22, almost 626,000 people attended our:
- public lectures
- performance arts events
- galleries
- museums
- other cultural events
Great North Museum: Hancock
The Great North Museum is our museum of natural history, archaeology, geology and world cultures. Its vision is to inspire curiosity, learning and debate. It does this through a stimulating, innovative and provocative science and cultural engagement programme.
There is cutting edge university research at its heart.
Collections and archives
The Museum holds the collections of the Natural History Society of Northumbria and the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne. The Museum works with colleagues and students across our three Faculties. The collections and archives particularly support:
- archaeology
- botany
- ethnography
- geology and palaeontology
- zoology
Museum studies teaching and research
In addition, the museum itself is a focus for our teaching and research in museum studies. This is across areas such as digital innovation, learning and participation, and audience engagement.
The Hatton Gallery
Founded in 1912, the Hatton Gallery stages a programme of modern and contemporary art exhibitions, and events. From the 1950s and 1960s the Hatton has pioneered experimental exhibition making, often by blending disciplines.
A famous examples of this was Richard Hamilton’s Man, Machine and Motion. It went on to be shown at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London.
The gallery is home to Kurt Schwitters’ Merz Barn (1948) and the Hatton Collection.
Significant investment in improving the gallery
The gallery recently received significant improvement work funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
We are looking forward to building on the gallery’s heritage of interdisciplinary and experimental exhibition making.
We also use the Hatton as a “living lab” for teaching, research and contemporary programming.
A venue for our talented students
Each year, the Hatton hosts the Fine Art Degree and MFA shows. Students from our School of Arts and Culture also curate exhibitions there.
The Philip Robinson Library – special collections and exhibitions
One of four libraries on our Newcastle campus, the Philip Robinson library is home to our special collections and archives. It has dedicated physical and virtual exhibition spaces. They are used to showcases our extensive collections.
Often these exhibitions are co-curated by students and researchers. They are derived in partnership with cultural and heritage organisations regionally and nationally.
Our exhibitions
Exhibitions often amplify university research strengths.
Previous work has included exhibitions on Gertrude Bell and Contemporary Poetry Collections.
The collections have also supported transformative initiatives such as social justice through exhibitions on:
- Martin Luther King’s visit to Newcastle
- Newcastle’s Forgotten Female Reformers
Archive Service accreditation
Since 2018, the library has held Archive Service accreditation.
Farrell Centre
Discover the role architecture and planning play in shaping our contemporary world, at our newest cultural venue, the Farrell Centre.
Its exhibitions, talks, tours and activities for all ages are inspired by architecture and urban design.
Learn about the past, present and future of Tyneside’s built environment in its 'Urban Rooms’'.
The Centre was made possible by a donation and legacy gift from Sir Terry Farrell, renowned architect and alumnus of Newcastle University.
The Farrell Centre is in the Sir Terry Farrell Building on Eldon Place. It's situated between King’s Gate and the Great North Museum: Hancock.
Admission and activities are always free.
