![\"BALTIC,](\"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/artfund.org_.jpg\")
BALTIC, Gateshead. Image from artfund.org<\/p>\n BALTIC, Gateshead. Image from artfund.org<\/p>\n
The V&A, the Tate, Saatchi and the National Portrait Gallery are four of the most visited museums in the United Kingdom. All located in London, and all boasting works from some of best known artists in the world, they\u2019re the ones that tourists want to tick off their bucket lists and\u00a0get that coveted selfie\u00a0inside.
\nWhile visits to these spaces are a must, there is more to the UK\u2019s art scene than Damien Hirst shows and extensive collections of ceramics from 2500 BC. The increase in popularity of art colleges and diversity in the courses they now provide means that more people are choosing to go down a more creative path,\u00a0and the newer generation of dynamic young British artists are willing to go at it alone and make their own opportunities to create and show work.
\nSo step a little outside of London and broaden your horizons to some of the most\u00a0diverse and stimulating works courtesy of the UK’s artist-run spaces. It\u2019ll be a new experience for the seasoned gallery-goer, with an opportunity to visit some pretty unlikely locations and experience the most contemporary work. Here, we present five of the best independent galleries coming out of Northern England, where the emerging art scene is proving there is more to the region\u00a0than Manchester United and the Beatles.<\/p>\n
![\"Brian](\"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Brian-Griffiths-BILL-MURRAY-BALTICmill.com_.jpg\")
Brian Griffiths. Bill Murray, BALTIC. Image from balticmill.com<\/p>\n
The iconic BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art dominates Newcastle-Upon-Tyne\u2019s alternative art scene. Consisting of 2,600 square metres, the gallery \u2013 housed in an old flour mill \u2013 is the largest dedicated contemporary art institution in the UK, with a mission to \u201ccreate exceptional access to important and innovative contemporary art in a unique setting, that encourages and enables learning and transformational thinking.\u201d Famed for exhibiting big names, having shown works by Nan Goldin<\/a>\u00a0during an exhibition on Elton John\u2019s private photography collection, the centre is also known for hosting the 2011 Turner Prize event. As well as being the first space outside of London or Liverpool to accommodate the prestigious ceremony, the Turner-Preis<\/a> exhibition at BALTIC attracted over 149,000 visitors \u2013 more than at any previous Turner Prize exhibition.<\/p>\n Established in a former office block in the heart of the city centre, The NewBridge Project houses over 80 artist studios, an exhibition space, a bookshop and a caf\u00e9. The artist-led community was set up in 2010, with the intention of providing a space for artists to work, but also to nurture the community by offering a support network allowing for feedback. Dedicated to encouraging an experimental and critical approach to the artists\u2019 practice, the space promotes discussion groups and artists\u2019 talks, as well as constantly exhibiting work and hosting various events. Supporting the art-world further, The NewBridge Project\u2019s bookstore sells books and magazines from small-presses or self-publishers, with the intention of getting the work of these innovators into the public eye.<\/p>\n Founded as an artist-run space in 1984, Castlefield Gallery has since gone on to become one of Northern England\u2019s most active and successful organisations for developing emerging contemporary artists. Recognising the north as a beacon of creativity, the founders of this Manchester space are aiming to build Northern England as a place where its residents can not only live and create, but also present their work in national and international contexts. Supporting Turner Prize nominees and winners, as well as exhibitors of global festivals from the beginnings of their careers, the intentions of the gallery are certainly not in vein. As well as providing their main space for such practices, the gallery also works in partnership with landlords to make available the many empty buildings in Greater Manchester, allowing emerging artists to produce and showcase their work through limited workspaces and pop-up exhibitions.<\/p>\n Domino Gallery is the oldest independent art gallery in Liverpool. A small gallery with erratic opening hours, the space covers all aspects of the arts by hosting artist talks, musical events and poetry evenings, as well as painting, photography and installations from local creatives. The gallery is known for promoting up-and-coming Liverpudlian artists, hosting a group exhibition of work by Liverpool\u2019s 2013 Biennial volunteers. Having said that, the intimate setting has also hosted work by more established artists, like renowned author of The Mersey Sound and poet Adrian Henri, and Kitchen sink realism pioneer John Bratby.<\/p>\n Repurposing one of the many textile mills from the Industrial Revolution in Armley, Leeds, the Assembly House concentrates on providing a comfortable public space. Boasting an eclectic range of work, the gallery visitors are invited to socialise through art via regular workshops and events, and engage in critical-thinking with the monthly exhibitions by in-house artists. A wide range of facilities caters to the diverse collection of art created at this space, with darkrooms, photographic studios and printmaking resources readily available. With the intention of nurturing the art community in Leeds, the Assembly House recently took over a second art space. The Lady Beck acts as the sister studio, and is important in continuing to build the organisation’s resilience and capacity and sustaining affordable workspaces for up and coming creatives. A selection of the best independent galleries coming out of Northern England<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":46827,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11856,139],"tags":[8007,8008,8009,8010,8011,3991,2897,141,8012,8013,8014,8015],"class_list":["post-46817","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sleek-art","category-art","tag-artist-run-spaces","tag-assembly-house","tag-baltic-centre-for-contemporary-art","tag-british-art","tag-domino-gallery","tag-england","tag-liverpool","tag-london","tag-manchester","tag-newbridge-project","tag-northern-england","tag-the-newbridge-project"],"acf":{"main_category":null,"legacy":"1","exclude_from_ads":null,"hero_title":null,"subtitle":null,"hero":null,"teasers":null,"facebook_image":null,"related_articles":null,"next_article":null,"sleek_card_focus":null,"content":null},"yoast_head":"\n![\"Jon](\"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/a-n.co_.uk_.jpg\")
Jon Wakeman, artistic director, East Street Arts, speaking at Do We Need to Grow Up, The NewBridge Project. Image from a-n.co.uk<\/p>\nThe NewBridge Project<\/a>, Newcastle<\/h2>\n
![\"Castlefield](\"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/castlefield-timeout.com_.jpg\")
Castlefield Gallery, Manchester. Image from timeout.com<\/p>\nCastlefield Gallery<\/a>, Manchester<\/h2>\n
![\"Domino](\"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/cassart.co_.uk_.jpg\")
Domino Gallery, Liverpool. Image from cassart.co.uk<\/p>\nDomino Gallery, Liverpool<\/h2>\n
![\"Snake](\"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/leeds-list.com_.jpg\")
Snake Oil Carnival at Assembly House, Leeds. Image from leeds-list.com<\/p>\nAssembly House<\/a>, Leeds<\/h2>\n
\n <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"