Dutch artist Nina Valkhoff's The Chase was nominated for Mural of the Year in the Street Art Cities Awards. Alongside the Mary Ann Macham sculpture — honouring a woman who escaped slavery and made North Shields her home — these works have been incorporated into a permanent walking trail through the town. Over 800 young people took part in Our Woven Voices, part of the same programme.

The North Shields Cultural Quarter has been building a map of local artists and creatives, growing networks, offering mentoring and skills training, and supporting cultural collaboration across the town. It's the infrastructure behind North Shields' reputation as a genuinely creative place.

The fourth edition of A Stone's Throw ran on 23 May 2026 across multiple North Shields venues. LUVCAT, Working Men's Club, Chalk and Panic Shack headlined a day that proved North Shields is no longer just a place music passes through — it's a destination. The multi-venue walkable format (no shuttles, no fences) remains the most civilised festival format in the north east.

These two venues are doing the work. Salt Market Social books touring acts and local bills equally well — it's on the Songkick radar for a reason. Three Tanners Bank does the grassroots, emerging-artist work that every strong scene needs. Both are on the Fish Quay. Both are worth a standing-up evening.

Low Lights Tavern — 400 years old, still pouring. Real ale, pie, waterfront. Start here.

Lobo Rojo — Mexican on the corner of the Irvin's building. Their margaritas are the best argument for not driving.

Dodgin's Yard — River Tyne views, breakfast through to Sunday lunch. Book ahead on weekends.

The Ships Cat — converted warehouse, big terrace, sharing plates. Good for groups.

The fresh fish stalls — Saturdays, Fish Quay. Buy something and take it home. This is what the town is for.

The hyperlocal platform @ilovenorthshields has 15,000 Instagram followers and is one of the most active community platforms in the north east. It's independent, community-made, and covers the real town — not the council version, not the tourist version. Follow them. Read them. They've been doing what northshields.buzz wants to do, for longer.

The Cullercoats Festival runs multiple venues with song, dance, poetry, storytelling, children's activities, yoga, sound baths and community spirit — all free for families. It's the kind of thing that makes you feel like the Commons is not just an idea.