Exhibition Celebrating the Stories of South Shields Extended Following Strong Public Response

Due to an overwhelmingly positive response from visitors and the museum, the Stories From Shields exhibition at South Shields Museum & Art Gallery has been extended and will now run until 30th May 2026, giving audiences an additional month to experience the exhibition for themselves.

Originally scheduled for a limited run from 23rd to 25th April 2026, the exhibition has been so warmly received that South Shields museum has chosen to extend its run, allowing more people the opportunity to explore and engage with the Stories From Shields exhibition.

Stories From Shields celebrates and promotes South Shields as a vibrant destination through its food, heritage, and community stories by bringing together the voices of local businesses and residents through a series of short films, storytelling, a specially designed postcard collection, and the launch of a brand-new food and drink heritage trail.

The project has been created by Local Heroes, a North East-based storytelling platform, and funded as part of the legacy of England’s first Destination Development Partnership (DDP) Pilot, Destination North East England, a government- funded initiative for the North East of England, which was designed to boost the regional visitor economy and support sustainable growth.

“Stories From Shields has been so well received by our visitors, that we’re thrilled to be able to extend its display period at the museum,” said Geoff Woodward, North & South Tyneside Museum Manager. “The exhibition has clearly struck a chord, and extending its run gives more people the chance to discover the powerful stories and heritage of South Shields.”  

“We’re so happy that Stories From Shields has been extended following such a positive response,” said Rosie Jenkinson of Local Heroes. “It’s been incredible to see so many people connecting with the stories, and now even more members of the public will have the opportunity to visit and explore the exhibition, and to see these voices and experiences brought to life.” 

David Bowe, Senior Visitor Economy Development Manager at NewcastleGateshead Initiative, which led the Destination Development Partnership, said, “It was brilliant to see the exhibition officially open and people engaging with the films, trail map, postcards and stories on display.

“I really hope it helps encourage more people to visit South Shields, explore what the town has to offer, support local businesses, and feel proud of everything that makes the place unique. A huge thank you again to the Local Heroes team for delivering such a creative and thoughtful project.”

The Stories From Shields exhibition is free to attend, with no booking required.

Destination North East England was a UK Government-funded pilot led by NewcastleGateshead Initiative on behalf of the region, working with delivery partners Visit Northumberland and Visit County Durham and in partnership with all seven local authorities to unlock the growth potential of the tourism industry. The soon-to-launch regional body Experience North East England will build on the pilot to help achieve the region’s ambitions of doubling the value of the visitor economy.