Newcastle Arts Centre & The North of England Art Club Presents
The Northern Summer Exhibition 2026
PRIVATE PREVIEW:
Sat 1st Aug, 1:30pm-3pm
For artists, their guests, & press.
EXHIBITION OPENS TO PUBLIC:
Sat 1st Aug, from 3pm
Up until 12th Sept, open Mon-Sat, 9:30am-5pm
This annual, open submission exhibition platforms artists based in the North East and Cumbria, showcasing across mediums, genres, subjects and abilities. It strives to celebrate the range of creative vision and artistic practice we have in the region.
Since its debut in 2023, The Northern Summer Exhibition has expanded and drawn in new artists every year, strengthening the network of practicing artists at home in the North. This year the exhibition presents more pieces than ever before, showcasing 130 artworks.
At the exhibition’s Preview we announced a Judges Best in Show, and an Art Club Best in Show, both of which you can see below. Voting also opened for the Audience’s Best in Show. All Best In Show winners receive Gift Vouchers for Details, our renowned Art Materials shop, to further equip and develop their creative skills.
Newcastle Arts Centre is proud to partner with The North of England Art Club each year to present The Northern Summer Exhibition. The Art Club took residence in our upstairs studios in 2011, equipping and providing space for their members to create work and develop their practice, as well as hosting weekly classes and lectures. To promote and enable the scale of the exhibition, each year Art Club members provide support to the selection, curation, and installation of the show. If you’re interested in learning more about The North of England Art Club, or becoming a member, please visit their website HERE.
This year’s NSE artworks and their artists are catalogued on our website, along online platforms that some of the artists have shared. This page will stay up after the exhibition closes, so you can remind yourself of the pieces you loved, and learn more about the artists. To visit the artist catalogue…
2026’s Best In Show Winners
Self-portrait in a black beret, by Viktoriia Riasnianska
Where The Light Remembers Us, by Geoff Hudson
2025’s Best In Show Winners
Last year Judges Best In Show was Nick Banks, with his wonderful piece Fading Knight. This year, he’s part of our Exhibition Programme…
Presented by Newcastle Arts Centre & The Showcase ECLECTICUS
Sat 19th Sept – Sat 31st Oct, Mon-Sat 9:30am-5pm
New Drawings and Sculptures by Nick Banks
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.’
Guest Event, Sat 26th Sept, 2-4pm
NAC & Nick invites press and members of the public to this special event to meet himself, and to celebrate this impressive collection of work.
