Northern art charity issues urgent call to save its future – ATV Today

A call to keep Northern art alive…

A much-loved Yorkshire-based arts charity that has championed artists across the North of England for 15 years is urgently appealing for support to keep its doors open.

New Light, a leading force in promoting Northern art, faces closure unless a new patron steps forward to help fund its future. The charity, which relies entirely on donations and sponsorship, celebrates and supports artists from across the region — from established names to emerging talent — through prestigious awards, touring exhibitions and creative outreach projects.

After 15 years as patron, philanthropist Valeria Sykes is stepping down, leaving New Light with a funding shortfall that threatens its survival.

“Without ongoing financial support, New Light will close,” says Rebekah Tadd, the charity’s CEO. “We need at least £50,000 to deliver our programme — but for sponsors and patrons, the rewards are more than financial. As well as supporting the arts, they’ll gain exposure and the chance to host events in some of the UK’s most beautiful venues.”

Those venues have included The Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle, Sunny Bank Mills in Leeds (famous as the setting for The Great British Sewing Bee), The Mercer Art Gallery in Harrogate, Bankside Gallery in London and The Williamson Museum & Art Gallery on the Wirral.

Rebekah adds:

“We’re incredibly grateful to Valeria, whose dedication has been vital in establishing us as a leading supporter of artistic talent in the North.”

Since its founding in 2010, New Light has helped put Northern art firmly on the map. Its 2023/24 Prize Exhibition featured 121 artists, touring four counties and London, attracting over 66,000 visitors.

Its Art for All programme has brought creativity to communities across the region, from sketching sessions in Rheged’s IMAX cinema to artist-led workshops in schools and art history tours for young people.

This summer saw the charity launch its first Summer Exhibition of the North in Leeds, celebrating northern creativity at the same time Bradford was basking in its City of Culture spotlight and hosting the Turner Prize.

“By investing in New Light, you’re investing in the next generation of Northern artists,” Rebekah explains. “Our work funds bursaries, exhibitions and community programmes that make art accessible to everyone. In times of financial uncertainty, the visual arts are always among the first to suffer — but they’re essential to our wellbeing, identity and culture.”

In a difficult move, New Light has also announced it will discontinue its Collection — an initiative that brought original artworks out of galleries and into hospitals, schools and community spaces across the North.

“The Collection has brought great pleasure to hospital visitors and enriched the school experience,” Rebekah says. “But as a small charity, it’s become too costly to maintain. We’re exploring ways to sell the artworks and reinvest the proceeds into our mission of supporting Northern artists.”

Over the past year, the Collection has reached York and Scarborough hospitals and The Retreat, a mental health charity in York, offering moments of calm and inspiration to those who need it most.

New Light has become a cornerstone of the Northern art calendar — and its team remains hopeful that with the right patron and partners, its story is far from over.

“We’re confident that with the right support, there’s an exciting future ahead for both the charity and Northern art,” says Rebekah.

For more information or to offer support, visit newlight-art.org.uk