Creativity met community spirit at an action day to improve Middlesbrough’s historic quarter.
Navigator North’s event on Sunday, February 15 builds on the momentum of the WE SHALL BE programme.
Led by Navigator North, WE SHALL BE is designed to transform the area around the railway station and reflect the spirit, pride and resilience of the town.
On Sunday, locals and volunteers took part in a litter pick and helped prepare street furniture like benches and bollards for the next phase of public art – before taking part in creative activities led by artists.
The event showed how creativity can sit alongside practical action to support civic pride, care for places and aid long-term regeneration.
Vicky Holbrough, co-founder and director at Navigator North, said:
“By embedding artists and creative processes within public spaces and everyday life, we can demonstrate how culture can contribute to civic pride, social connection and long-term place-based change.
“Since 2011, Navigator North has developed and managed more than 20 ‘meanwhile’ spaces across Tees Valley and County Durham, transforming vacant offices and retail units into studios, exhibition spaces and hubs for cultural activity.
“This long-standing commitment to artists, communities and the creative use of space underpins all of the organisation’s work.”
Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke took part in the action day, and said:
“I’m really impressed by WE SHALL BE and it was a pleasure to go along and support the day of action.
“It was great to see so many people take part and I want to thank everyone who gave up their time.
“The programme shows what a creative place Middlesbrough is – it’s bringing life, colour and culture to a part of town that’s really on the up.”
The Creative Community Action Day and the new community created artworks are part of Open House – funded by Historic England, through the UK Government’s Know Your Neighbourhood Fund.
This project aims to support people into volunteering, building connections with others, and to engage with the historic environment.
Ellen Harrison, Historic England Participation and Learning Director, said: “This is the type of action day we see at the heart of the Know Your Neighbourhood project with volunteers connecting to protect and bring life to Middlesbrough’s historic environment.”
In 2025, Navigator North was awarded the #NECultureAward for Best Arts and Business Partnership, recognising a two-year collaboration with Middlesbrough Council and TransPennine Express through the Most Creative Station programme at Middlesbrough Railway Station.
With over 1.2 million passengers using the station each year, the partnership has become a highly visible example of how arts, public realm and business collaboration can transform everyday spaces and reach wide, non-traditional audiences.
The cultural award followed shortly after Middlesbrough Railway Station was named Best Station nationally across the TransPennine Express network.
