What We Do
The Cultural Spring exists to make arts and culture an accepted and expected part of everyday life in Sunderland and South Tyneside.
We work in partnership with artists, community venues, and local groups to create arts and creative projects that are accessible, inclusive, and rooted in local voices.
Our projects don’t just offer opportunities to take part—they support local people to take ownership of creativity. We empower communities to develop, direct and create work themselves, becoming the creators, artists and decision-makers who shape culture in their own communities. This meaningful engagement in the arts has a powerful impact—building confidence, strengthening social connections, and improving mental health and wellbeing.
Our Values
We are guided by the values of authenticity, community, and transparency.
We actively listen, build meaningful relationships, and take time to earn trust.
We focus our efforts on reaching people who may have little or no experience of arts and culture – those who feel it’s not for them, or who don’t know where to start.
We embed co-creation throughout our work, ensuring community voices are not only heard, but truly drive the direction of everything we do.
What do we mean by
co-creation?
To us, co-creation is when artists and community members work together to plan and create something
– like a piece of art, a project or an event. Everyone involved has a say, and decisions are made together throughout the whole process, from the first idea to the final result.
It’s about bringing people with different backgrounds, experiences and skills together to explore a shared goal or challenge.
Everyone involved shares the creative responsibility – no one person is in charge, and all voices are equally important.
By working together like this, we can create projects that have a lasting impact and make a real difference in people’s lives.
