7 Art Organisations to know in Middlesbrough
Ahead of the opening of New Contemporaries at MIMA, on view 8 May – 16 August 2026, take a virtual tour with us around some of the inspiring arts organisations across the town. Middlesbrough has a vibrant and innovative creative scene, with public programming and artist opportunities supported by many dedicated organisations and individuals that really impact artists and the spaces in which they practice.
"Organisations such as MIMA, Navigator North, Platform A and The Auxiliary play a vital role in shaping the cultural life of Middlesbrough. They provide far more than just art or exhibition spaces, these are places of learning, care, experimentation and connection. Through ambitious programming, support for emerging practitioners, and a genuine commitment to local communities, these organisations help ensure that art is not something isolated or exclusive, but lived and shared." Kel Pereira, Curatorial Fellow, MIMA.
MIMA connects art, people and ideas to empower creative lives and positively contribute to society. An international art gallery and museum, they commission, collect and re-think modern and contemporary art. They build and celebrate creativity and support change towards an open and inclusive future. As part of Teesside University and closely connected with the School of Arts & Creative Industries, MIMA is dedicated to collaborative learning, research and innovation.
Community-focused and artist-led, The Auxiliary has been a driving force in the North East’s creative scene since 2017, building space, community and momentum. They offer artist studios (currently undergoing building works) and deliver two major regional festivals: Middlesbrough Art Week, the largest annual contemporary arts festival in the town, and Sonic Arts Week, which transforms Middlesbrough into a sonic playground. The Auxiliary also supports artists’ professional development through its membership scheme, which offers creative opportunities, discounts on workshops and events, and a strong peer network for sharing knowledge and good practice.
Come along to the New Contemporaries afterparty at The Auxiliary on Thursday 14 May, 7.00pm – 12.00am, for a programme by pioneering electronic music duo A Man Called Adam plus Performance Art, Teesside Dub, Smoggy Queens and Italo Disco.
Dundas House is a large building offering spaces suitable for artists, makers and creative organisations. With Navigator North and East Street Arts, Dundas House has opened its doors as open studios, allowing the public to meet creatives and experience their work. Most recently, it has been home to Open House, a safe and welcoming space offering opportunities for people to come together, volunteer their time and improve their wellbeing through social activities rooted in heritage and creativity.
With the belief that “artists will create positive change in the places they live and work”, East Street Arts are committed to supporting artists to develop resilient and sustainable practices through workspaces, resources, professional support and opportunities. Connecting artists to studios and spaces for their practice and communities and peers. East Street Arts’ projects are ambitious and unique, bringing together artists, people and places.
Navigator North is a Tees Valley-based, artist-led organisation supporting artists, communities and the creative use of space. Through studios, public art, community programmes and public realm interventions, Navigator North works across studios, streets and shared places to strengthen creative infrastructure and shape vibrant, inclusive environments.
Working with partner East Street Arts since 2011, they have provided hundreds of artists with studio space across 20 different sites in Tees Valley and County Durham in alternative spaces, including office, retail and commercial properties. As an artist led organisation, Navigator North pride themselves on creating opportunities to support creative practice and professionalism within the creative sector. Curated to specific themes, their funded programmes aim to provide better understanding, access and engagement with the arts for the benefit of the public whilst enabling artists to share their work through public commissions, exhibitions, events and residencies.
Located at Middlesbrough Railway Station, Platform A is a gallery presenting work by both emerging and established artists. Dedicated to experimentation and new approaches, Platform A delivers high-quality and innovative exhibitions. Currently on display, RELAY [02] is the second part of a collaborative exhibition, with the first part shown in Sheffield. The exhibition explores shared industrial heritage and how objects and surfaces hold layered histories. The artists in the exhibition are Simona Brinkmann, James Clarkson, Charlotte Dawson, Thomas Griffiths and it on view until 14th May 2026.
A creative fabrication and placemaking organisation, Sawdust provides access to equipment, space and expertise, enabling creative people to develop and initiate their practice in Middlesbrough. Through workshops, classes, outreach and commercial fabrication, Sawdust has established vital infrastructure that artists can access affordably.
"Middlesbrough is being rejuvenated and reinvented through the arts sector, working towards creating lasting change and an environment we can all be proud of. Middlesbrough has a vibrant arts scene which offers support for people at any stage in their career, spaces such as the zoo, 2b, Navigator North, The Auxiliary and Platform A offer diverse spaces for artists to grow there practice and confidence in showing their work and we at SAWDUST champion the making of artwork in Teesside." Will Hughes, Founding Director of SAWDUST.