The Mining Art Gallery located in Bishop Auckland contains artwork of prominent artists including art from Tom McGuiness and Norman Cornish. The Mining Art Gallery provides a unique insight into the lives and souls of coal miners by depicting their life in the mines and the communities that grew around them.
These incredible pieces illuminate and preserve a vital aspect of coalfield heritage for us to appreciate and study.
Culture, life, and community sprung out from mining in the North East; it’s our history, it’s our character, and it’s who we are. These inspiring works showcase the resilience and courage of those who lived and worked in the mines, and give an incredible perspective on how human creativity and spirit can shine even in the darkest places.
Created in partnership with Dr Robert McManners OBE and Gillian Wales, the gallery will take you on an exploration of the art, culture, and context of the mining industry and its place in the history of County Durham.
Very exciting to have a gallery that explores the art, culture and context of the very important mining industry. It reminds me of all the arts that celebrated the history of gold in Bendigo and Ballarat. Working class communities are very often ignored in standard art history courses and galleries.
The paintings really do get to the heart and soul of the area.
You find the best places to visit, Cherry!
I have fun researching places to visit and this was definately one that I had to visit when in Bishop Aukland to visit the Castle.
A beautiful historic building to host a mining art gallery.
It is a lovely building
Remember this by JD, about Norman Cornish?
https://theylaughedatnoah.blogspot.com/2020/02/art-norman-cornish-by-jd.html
I do remember and I remember other conversations with JD about the subject
Here is a bit more about the gallery and the regeneration of Bishop Auckland which is a work in progress.
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/jonathan-ruffer-mining-art-gallery-auckland-1120088
I am 99% sure that it was Gillian Wales that welcomed us to the gallery by giving us brief introduction about the paintings and donations. The wearing of a face mask caused an element of doubt. When we left she was keen to know if we had enjoyed the museum and persuaded me to buy a book that covered many of the artworks and artists.
There is also this – https://museumsnorthumberland.org.uk/whats-on/the-ashington-group-gallery/
I can’t remember if I told you about Woodhorn or not. They have a large collection by the ‘Pitmen Painters’ of Ashington. Something to put in your diary for your next visit ‘oop’ north!
I don’t remember you telling me about the Woodhorn Gallery. I think there was some history of them in this gallery but I may have read that somewhere else when I was researching things to do in the Durham area.