Charity forced to sell off artwork 'to survive'

A charity which helps artists across the north of England is selling off its collection of work as it battles to stay open.

The New Light Art collection began in 2010 through donations and grants and includes more than 80 pieces by northern artists.

CEO of New Light Rebekah Tadd said selling the works would give it "breathing space to survive", otherwise it would be closing in "a matter of months" after a drop in funding.

The collection is just one arm of the charity and the money, raised through an auction in Newcastle, will allow it to continue to promote northern art within communities.

New Light was established to address the lack of opportunity for northern artists.

Its patron of 15 years stepped down in 2025 leading to funding issues, which mean the cost of logistics, administration, insurance and storage of the collection became difficult.

Tadd said the charity still had a "very exciting" programme of events for 2026 and 2027 but was actively seeking other funding options to stay open.

Until now, the New Light Collection has been taken out of the gallery setting and loaned to public bodies and charities, such as schools and hospitals.

Work includes that by the late Norman Ackroyd, Anne Desmet and Mark Demsteader.

The collection also features work from Nat Quinn, who studied at Northumbria University and who was the first winner of the New Light Art Prize in 2011, as well as work from fellow graduate Erin Ward.

Durham artist Anja Percival also has prints included in the sale.

"It's a very sad moment," Tadd said. "But the collection has been such a source of joy and solace to people that we are so proud of what we've managed to achieve with it and so grateful to the artists that have donated work to achieve it."

Tadd said there had been a long process of talking to the artists in the collection about the decision.

"They know it's our last chance and it will give us breathing space to be able to get the funding that we desperately need," she said.

"Without that funding we will be closing within a matter of months."

Tadd said the charity was determined to carry out its usual work in giving people access to contemporary art.

"It's all very well having it on Instagram but people need to be able to experience it first hand," she said.

"We really hope that we can continue to carry on and champion northern artists."

The sale of the New Light Art collection will take place at the Anderson & Garland Auctioneers in Newcastle on Thursday.

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