Exhibitions. Live Music. Live Entertainment. Special Events.
WEEKLY & MONTHLY EVENTS
Across The Black Swan Bar & Venue, and our Art Courses, there’s activity for everyone to get involved in every week at Newcastle Arts Centre
Jazz Cafe Presents… At The Black Swan:
Tuesday Jazz Jam
Every 1st & 3rd Tuesday of the month
In the Black Swan Bar
Doors 7pm / Music 7:30-10:30pm
Free admission!
The Black Swan’s long standing Jazz Jam, where the house trio invite all jazz instrumentalists and singers to join them and jam together. All listeners welcome too. Upcoming Tuesday Jams…
5 May
Stu Collingwood (keys), Paul Grainger (bass), Tim Johnston (drums)
19 May
Michael Young (keys), Paul Grainger (bass), Mark Robertson (drums)
2 June
Alan Law (keys), Paul Grainger (bass), John Hirst (drums)
Jazz Cafe Presents… At The Black Swan:
Jazz Jam Sandwich
Every 2nd Tuesday of the month
In the Black Swan Bar
Doors 7:00pm / Music 7:30pm – 10:30pm
Free admission!
This Jam comes in all kinds of flavours covering afro-beat, funk, soul and world music. It’s all about freedom, expression and good vibes. We invite you to take up your instrument of choice and contribute to the creativity. Drop in and take part or simply sit back and soak it up. Upcoming Jam Sandwiches…
12 May
9 June
14 July
11 August
Black Swan Quiz!
Every Wednesday night
In the Black Swan Bar
Doors 7pm / Quiz 8pm-10:15pm.
£1 per person to enter. Up to 6 members per team
Test yourself on General Knowledge, Film and TV, Music and the Specialist Subject, plus earn extra points in the Bonus Challenges.
Come first to have a spin on The Wheel of Plenty and win one of several fabulous prizes but don’t worry if you fall short, there are plenty of “booby” prizes up for grabs too
For more info CLICK HERE…
Art Courses
Run in our Studios on Wednesday evenings and Saturday daytimes, offering a tutorship in a variety of mediums and art skills.
For more info CLICK HERE…
SalSeduce
Salsa Classes and Club every Friday night in the Black Swan Bar & Venue.
For more info CLICK HERE…
EVENTS CALENDAR
Listings of Live Music with Guest Artists, Exhibitions and Special Events
MAY ’26
Newcastle Arts Centre & Creative Central NCL Presents
Streets Alive – Mon 11th May – Sat 30th May
NAC Gallery
Open Mon-Sat 9:30am-5pm
FREE ENTRY
Streets Alive is a celebration of The Forth & Pink Lane Urban Galleries, a collaborative project between Creative Central NCL, NE1, Project North East (PNE), Elements Arts, Vanguard Newcastle CIC & Newcastle Arts Centre. Since its opening in 2024 in Forth Lane, this project has grown and spilled out into Pink Lane, and has strived to invest in artists, provide public art, and to platform civic pride as a means of regenerating two of the city’s most historic streets. This exhibition showcases the evolution of the project, its vision for the future, and the artists involved.
LIVE Thursdays
Jazz Classics with Rivkala, Paul and Alan – Thursday 21st May
The Black Swan Bar
Doors open 7pm / Live music from 7:30pm
FREE ENTRY
An evening of jazz classics with local musical legends Alan Law (keys) and Paul Grainger (double bass) fronted by award winning singer/songwriter Rivkala (Becky Tuck). Driven by Paul’s basswork and lifted by Alan’s mastery of the keys, Rivkala’s rich, deep vocals are guaranteed to captivate, blending the traditional and contemporary.
Jazz Cafe Presents… at The Black Swan
Lagos2Longbenton – Tuesday 26th May
The Black Swan Bar
Doors open 7pm / Live music from 7:30pm
FREE ENTRY
Presenting the North East’s premier Afrobeat band, Lagos2Longbenton takes the infectious grooves of West Africa and fuses it with a collective passion for jazz, funk and latin. This supergroup of the region’s most exciting musical collaborators are bringing high energy, inspiring culture and a whole lot of fun to our stage.
LIVE Thursdays
Squabble – Thursday 28th May
The Black Swan Bar
Doors open 7pm / Live music from 7:30pm
FREE ENTRY
Hammond organ jazz trio, performing standards of the jazz world centred around the iconic sound of the Hammond Organ. This well versed trio comprises Sid White on drums, Jude Murphy on double bass, and Steve Chambers on the all important organ.
June ’26
Newcastle Arts Centre & The Black Swan Presents, with Park Promotions
Maddy Prior: In Concert – Wednesday 10th June
The Black Swan Venue
Doors open 7pm
TICKETS – £22 adv & otd (no booking fee)
Book HERE
The Queen of Folk Rock, Maddy Prior brings an evening of song drawing on a lifetime in British folk music.
Joined by Andrew (Spud) Sinclair (Steeleye Span), she presents newly written work that will blend depth and atmosphere, alongside a selection of traditional and familiar favourites.
Still bringing fresh visions with her music after all these years, The Black Swan is thrilled to welcome Maddy Prior to its programme.
Julia Heslop, Taryn Edmonds & Martin Heslop Presents
Galena – Mon 15th Jun – Sat 27th Jun
NAC Gallery
Open Mon-Sat 9:30am-5pm
FREE ENTRY
Galena tracks a landscape awaiting development. Through sound, film, painting and print, Julia Heslop, Taryn Edmonds and Martin Heslop explore the site of the Elswick Lead Works on the River Tyne, where a new housing development is planned. These new artworks examine the unique histories and cultures of the area, considering the origins of the galena (lead ore) from the mines of the North Pennines, to the processing and production plants on the banks of the Tyne. The exhibition traces this vanished industry, but also offers a fresh eye and ear to the present day ecologies: from the abandoned factory buildings, to the pigeon crees, and the hundreds of silver birch trees now making the place their home. In examining the legacy of the Lead Works, the exhibition poses questions about how the past and present-day stories of this remarkable landscape are valued within the new housing development proposed for the site.
JuLY ’26
Newcastle Arts Centre, The Showcase & Newcastle City Learning Presents
Making Space – Mon 6th Jul – Sat 18th Jul
NAC Gallery & The Showcase
Open Mon-Sat 9:30am-5pm
FREE ENTRY
Making Space is a collaborative exhibition highlighting the role that adult education plays in supporting both creative practice and personal wellbeing. Showcasing artwork and select pieces of creative writing from across Newcastle City Learning’s wider Creative Arts Courses, it will cover diverse materials, viewpoints, and techniques. This collection highlights the role that adult education plays in supporting both creative practice and personal wellbeing.
Newcastle Art Centre, The Showcase and Newcastle City Learning present this exhibition in order to strengthen the connection between community learning and the wider arts landscape, showing that cultural spaces can include and represent everyone.
August ’26
Newcastle Arts Centre & The North of England Art Club Presents
The Northern Summer Exhibition 2026
– Mon 3rd Aug – Sat 12th Sept
NAC Gallery
Open Mon-Sat 9:30am-5pm
FREE ENTRY
Since its first year in 2023, The Northern Summer Exhibition has showcased artwork from professionals, hobbyists, and novices. It welcomes pieces from across mediums, genres, subjects and abilities, striving to celebrate the range of creative vision and artistic practice in the region. The exhibition’s reach has grown year on year, with submissions received in 2024 doubling those of its debut year. Then in 2025’s exhibition, the Gallery walls featured 100 artists across 124 artworks.
Now a staple of Newcastle Arts Centre and The North of England Art Club’s calendar, this annual, open submission exhibition invites entries from all North Eastern and Cumbrian artists. Each year it strives to introduce new artists and to further enrich the network of practicing creatives at home in the North.
September ’26
Newcastle Arts Centre & The Showcase Presents
ECLECTICUS – Mon 21st Sept – Sat 31st Oct
New Drawings and Sculptures by Nick Banks
NAC Gallery & The Showcase
Open Mon-Sat 9:30am-5pm
FREE ENTRY
This latest body of work by Nick Banks, comprising drawing and sculpture, captures an eclectic breadth of subject matter, across moments, objects, and memories. As a collection, ECLECTICUS deviates from theme, developing ideas and imagery that have flowed to Nick ‘like figures emerging from the mist.’
The drawings show Nick’s dedicated and consistent exploration of tone. Each work is pushed and pulled through multiple, quite physical transitions of line and shade, worked back and forth before settling at a resolved state. Despite their size, each one has been rigorously worked upon as if creating on a much larger scale.
The sculptures have come from the notion that simple objects can have a potent charge. Inspired by trips to The British Museum as an art student, where Nick was drawn to the modest, often domestic artefacts, rather than the grand imposing sculptures. His intrigue in their timeless nature and their lasting resonance was the trigger for Nick when creating these new pieces.
october ’26
LIVE Thursdays Presents, From Stand-up Comedian Michael Akadiri
Don’t Call me Uncle – Thursday 22nd October
The Black Swan Venue
Doors open 7pm / Show from 8pm
TICKETS – Standard: £17 / Concession: £15 (no booking fee)
Book HERE
Introducing stand up comedian and junior doctor Michael Akadiri, on tour with his latest show: Don’t Call me Uncle! Having scooped up awards with his earlier productions including Trust me, I’m a Daddy and the No Scrubs Special (check that out here on YouTube) Michael has been inspired by recent events to write and produce Don’t Call me Uncle!
november ’26
Newcastle Arts Centre & St. Mary’s Sixth Form Presents
St. Mary’s Student Exhibition
– Mon 9th Nov – Sat 14th Nov
NAC Gallery
Open Mon-Sat 9:30am-5pm
FREE ENTRY
St. Mary’s High School Fine Art & Photography Dept. boasts an array of vision and talent from its students, and it strives to provide them with the opportunity to develop their artistic practice.
Newcastle Arts Centre has long played a role in platforming the next generation of artists coming up through the North East. For many years we’ve been the home to Newcastle College’s Degree Shows. So we’re thrilled to be welcoming back for a second year the Art Students of St. Mary’s Sixth Form, and continuing to showcase the artwork of our region’s young people.
With us for only one week, make sure to catch this exhibition and witness the art of the future.
Newcastle Arts Centre Presents
Artists of NAC Winter Exhibition 2026
– Mon 23rd Nov 2026 – Jan 2027
NAC Gallery
Open Mon-Sat 9:30am-5pm
FREE ENTRY
Newcastle Arts Centre has many spaces, departments, and facilities. Our community of Studio Holders; from painters to puppeteers, sculptors to bookbinders, a dynamic group of artists have chosen to make the Arts Centre their creative home. Our long standing shops, Details Art Materials, Craftshop, and the Frameshop, supporting and supplying creative practice and craftspeople. The Office staff programming the Art Centre’s activity and projects. Art Course Tutors delivering a range of practical classes. The Black Swan Venue team hosting our live music and events. The Trustees and Building Operatives working hard on maintaining and developing our site.
We’re proud that so many of our team are artists as well. This exhibition celebrates the artwork of those who work and spend time at Newcastle Arts Centre, and who contribute to its collective creativity.
