Explore operates as a platform for works with cultural and research partners in the region.
Example 1
The Programme continues to innovate in terms of curriculum providing a enriching mix of intelligent content at the equivalent of HE Level 1 and at high standards of teaching
Of particular interest in the last season was our collaboration with Baltic on The Turner Prize.
Led by Dr Ceclilia Holmes. the highly successful educational programme about the Turner Prize based on the new collaboration between NECLL and BALTIC utilized blend of pedagogic approaches.

The programme highlights the benefits of university collaboration with cultural partners in the region. University, Gallery and Public were brought together in informed contextualised debate which encouraged direct response to the work in situ. The sessions were structured and timed to coincide with the exhibition allowing for genuine engagement with ‘challenging’ contemporary art.

By working in partnership, NECLL, through the university, was able to diversify the reach of BALTIC’s Education Plan. Therefore, NECLL benefited BALTIC by bringing them a new audience – the excellent feedback received from students has been shared with the team at BALTIC as evidence for their Audience Development Plan.

The final session followed the announcement of the winner and was a panel-led discussion which analysed contemporary media response, making for a striking immediacy of content. This session also included a guest speaker, Godfrey Worsdale, Director of BALTIC, who commented that ‘it was a pleasure to engage with such an informed audience.
Student feedback has highlighted the enhanced accessibility of the ‘difficult’ work examined; students have felt more equipped to make a judgement on the shortlisted work as a direct result of the course. A sample of responses is below. For the BALTIC Education team, the value of the course was clear, we have since been asked for volunteers to form a focus group discussing their experience. This is a two-way partnership.
“BALTIC was very pleased to work with the North East Centre for Lifelong Learning as part of Explore. The 6-week course looking at the Turner Prize 2011 was a fantastic way into contemporary art for many ... For BALTIC, the course helped us to attract a new audience who may have been hesitant about visiting the gallery and who felt that contemporary art wasn’t for them. Being given the opportunity to spend time looking at the exhibition in a supportive and open environment has, I believe, opened up contemporary art and BALTIC to a new audience.”
Emma Thomas, Head of Learning and Engagement, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art.
The programme has been entered in the University’s Innovation Challenge.
Example 2
the Engage project works with postgraduate students across the region, providing them with a workshop in prsetnation skills and then giving them opportunitie to make presentations on the Explore programme to the general public. This enhances skills relating to public communication of research and provides a disssemination channel for cutting edge research.