The Biscuit Factory hosts four seasonal exhibitions a year, each featuring the work of over 200 artists, as well as showcasing collaborations with national agencies, creative inititatives and arts organisations.
Open Contemporary Young Artist Award 2018
18 May - 26 August 2018
The Biscuit Factory
The Biscuit Factory
Free admission
Open daily
Our Open Contemporary Young Artist Award 2018 profiles young up and coming talent from across the UK. Launching on Friday 18 May at our Late Shows event, the exhibition will then run until 26 August 2018.
Our shortlist features mixed media artwork from over 20 artists, all available to purchase. Visitors can cast their votes for our People's Choice winner in gallery or online.
To cast your vote online simply click here and like your favourite artwork.
The Summer Exhibition
June 1 - 26 August 2018
The Biscuit Factory
The Biscuit Factory
Free admission
Open daily
Our Summer Exhibition will feature a headline collection of original paintings from Dan Cimmermann, plus new artwork from over 250 artists, designers and makers.
Highlights include new collections from Anthony Marshall, Hester Berry and Simon M Smith. Visitors can also browse our Design | Innovate | Craft show, featuring new work from 20 designer-makers.
To accompany the exhibition and as part of our Inspired By The Great Exhibition of the North programme, Dan Cimmermann will also be painting a large scale wall mural on Boyd Street dedicated to North East engineer George Stephenson.
design | innovate | craft
1 June - 26 August 2018
The Biscuit Factory
The Biscuit Factory
Free admission
Open daily
For this year's Great Exhibition of the North we present a mixed media exhibition celebrating innovation within contemporary craft by designer-makers from the North of England. Selected for their innovative use of materials, application, method or presentation, this exhibition showcases work for sale, across a range of disciplines including; furniture, ceramics, jewellery, sculpture and printmaking.
design | innovate | craft champions new approaches within the world of craft, presenting accessible pieces to live with or wear. A public programme of workshops, talks and seminars will support this exhibition, providing opportunities to learn, develop and engage with contemporary craft and design.
Creative Workshops
June - September
The Biscuit Factory
The Biscuit Factory
Various dates
Tickets available now
Tickets available now
Join us in the gallery this summer and get creative with our range of artist-led workshops. From pottery and wire sculpture, to modern calligraphy and printmaking we offer hands-on workshops to suit all abilities.
This summer, to run alongside our exhibition design | innovate | craft, we present a public programme of workshops, talks and seminars, providing opportunities to learn, develop and engage with contemporary craft and design.
One To One: Crafts Council Talent Development Team
Thursday 21 June
The Biscuit Factory
Various times available
£35 - £55 Ticketed sessions
Are you looking for a brain storm session for your creative business? Have you found yourself at a crossroads with your practice? Do you need a spark of inspiration or an action plan to take your work forward?
Join the Crafts Council team for a bespoke advisory hour long session with an experienced arts and business development advisor. Tailored for you and fully confidential, this session will enable you to talk about your ideas or concerns about your creative practice.
You will go away with a set of action points to implement into your practice. Find out more here.
You will go away with a set of action points to implement into your practice. Find out more here.
Own Art: Collecting Original Art & Craft Talk
Saturday 23 June
The Biscuit Factory
1 - 1.45pm
FREE drop-in
Join Own Art representatives on the opening weekend of the Great Exhibition of the North as they reveal some insider tips on how to discover new artists and makers. They'll be looking at our Design | Innovate | Craft show (part of the Great Exhibition of the North) and sharing tips on developing and building your own art and craft collection, with an opportunity for questions with the team at the end.
Perfect for first time buyers or established collectors, looking to grow your collection.
Printmaking Demo
Saturday 23 June 11am - 1pm
Saturday 30 June 11am - 1pm
Sunday 1 July 11am - 1pm
The Biscuit Factory
Free, d
rop-in
Join printmaker Shona Branigan, as part of the opening weekend for the Great Exhibition of the North, and Ouseburn Open Studios as she demonstrates and invites you to have a go at relief printing.
Shona's work is currently on show within our exhibition design | innovate | craft. Preview her collection here.
3D Ceramic Printing Demo
Saturday 23 June 2pm - 4pm & Sunday 24 June 11am - 1pm
The Biscuit Factory
Free, d
rop-in
Join makers Joan and Jack Hardie, as part of the opening weekend for the Great Exhibition of the North, as they demonstrate 3d ceramic printing in the gallery.
Joan and Jack will reveal how they design and construct unusual ceramic forms using a specially built 3d printer and a clay extruder. After the live demostration there will be the opportunity to ask questions. If you are interested in innovation, design or craft, please drop in and find out more!
Joan and Jack's work is currently on show within our exhibition design | innovate | craft. Preview their collection here.
Live Mural Painting: Dan Cimmermann
Sunday 24 June 10am - 5pm
The Biscuit Room, Boyd Street, NE2 1AP
Free
Accessible at all times
Watch headline artist Dan Cimmermann as he paints a large scale mural of the northern inventor George Stephenson, part of his solo show of work throughout the summer at The Biscuit Factory and The Great Exhibition of the North.
The mural will be on permanent public display on Boyd Street, Ouseburn (next door to The Biscuit Factory, outside The Biscuit Room events suite). Visitors are encouraged to view the work being painted live on Sunday 24 June from 10am - 5pm.
This event is part of the Inspired By: The Great Exhibition of the North programme. Find out more here.
Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair
Saturday 23 & Sunday 24 June
The Biscuit Room (behind The Biscuit Factory)
The Biscuit Room (behind The Biscuit Factory)
10-4pm
Free admission
The award-winning Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair is coming to The Biscuit Factory, as part of the opening weekend of Great Exhibition of the North 2018. This celebration of the best in contemporary craft and design is a unique opportunity to buy and commission covetable work by over 50 specially selected artists and designer makers working in ceramics, glass, textiles, jewellery, furniture, lighting, print and more.
Find us on The Design Trail for Great Exhibition of the North 2018. See what's on here.
Ouseburn Open Studios
Saturday 30 June & Sunday 1 July
The Biscuit Factory + Ouseburn venues
10 - 5pm
Free admission
A date for your diary! Join us for our first ever summer Ouseburn Open Studios event, held in celebration of the Great Exhibition of the North.
Over 200 artists across 8 creative workspaces open their doors to the public to sell original art, craft & design and give visitors a glimpse behind the scenes. Full programme will be unveiled soon, watch this space!
The Autumn Exhibition
From 7 September
The Biscuit Factory
The Biscuit Factory
Free admission
Open daily
Our Autumn Exhibition will feature a headline collection of original paintings and prints from Catherine Rayner, plus new artwork from over 250 artists, designers and makers.
More details coming soon, watch this space!