Nana’s House: Homegrown Celebration in Peterlee
As the lead artist for Nana’s House, this project held special significance for me, not just as an artist, but as someone raised in Peterlee, in the very community where the exhibition took place. The idea for Nana’s House first took root during lively conversations with fellow STRIKE Collective members, as we found ourselves sharing memories and stories of our grandmothers, the women who shaped so much of our daily lives and our sense of belonging.
With Place Lab’s emphasis on welcoming, inclusive creative spaces firmly in mind, I envisioned a project that would open its doors to people from all walks of life. Nana’s House was as much about hospitality as it was about art: a space that encouraged visitors to swap their own stories, bringing together threads of memory and experience that connect us across generations. This shared storytelling became the heart of the exhibition, providing a powerful entry point for introducing the work of local artists and sparking open discussions about creativity and place.
The exhibition, co curated between myself and fellow artist Zara Worth, showcased talented Northeast artists alongside artworks made by local women. Interestingly, during the consultation phase of the project I found that most of the women I spoke to did not class themselves as artists but non the less demonstrated wonderful creativity and natural talent for arts and crafts. As a result, Nana’s House became an opportunity to share stories not only of women’s work in the Northeast but also their creativity which has historically gone undetected in comparison to their male counterparts. I am forever grateful to these women for being so generous in sharing their art with myself and the community, as an artist myself I fully appreciate the vulnerability and self-consciousness that can come with expressing your inner world with others. I am certain it made a positive impact by the discussions that were had in the space and hope more people in Peterlee view art as an accessible outlet for themselves.
In a town named after a man, Nana’s House became—for a while—a space that centred the voices, wisdom, and contributions of local women, while inviting everyone to participate. Thank you to all who stepped inside and made this homegrown celebration truly meaningful.
Click below to watch a video by local film maker Carl Joyce that documented this special project.
Nana’s House was possible thanks to brilliant partnerships with No More Nowt, Place Lab Peterlee, and the support of Castle Dene Shopping Centre. Most of all, it was fuelled by the genuine warmth and openness of the local community. Thank you to our sponsors Beamish, The Story, Strike Collective and everyone who made Nana’s House not just a project, but a place to belong.