Newcastle - a-n The Artists Information Company

Paul Moss was the co-founder of Gateshead’s Workplace Gallery and also co-director of the Workplace Foundation, a charity set up to support emerging and under-represented artists based outside of London.

Rebecca Huggan takes on her new role during a period of change, with the Newcastle-based arts organisation seeking to secure a new permanent base for its artists’ studios and exhibition programme.

The arms manufacturer is no longer a ‘premier partner’ of the government-backed exhibition after artists and arts professionals backed a campaign against the company’s involvement.

The petition addressed to the CEO of the NewcastleGateshead Initiative calls for sponsorship from BAE Systems, which has been accused of “profiteering from the deaths of innocent children” in Yemen, to be refused.

Starting on 22 June, visual art exhibitions, new offsite commissions, as well as an art trail, will take place across NewcastleGateshead, joining other parts of the Great Exhibition of the North programme to focus on the identity and rich cultural history of northern England.

The visual arts commissioning agency has written the letter to Arts Council England chair Sir Nicholas Serota saying its confirmed programme is in jeopardy after its removal from ACE’s national portfolio.