13/05/2026
💪🏻 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗵𝗶𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄 🗳️
💪🏻 An inspiring new exhibition celebrating resilience in all its forms has opened in Hartlepool Art Gallery – and visitors are being invited to help choose an artist to stage their own solo show at the venue.
🖼️ Titled Resilience, the exhibition runs until Saturday 4 July and showcases outstanding artistic talent from across the Tees Valley.
📢 The exhibition features work by 50 artists selected through an open call for people with links to Hartlepool.
Inspired by the 100th anniversary of the General Strike, the exhibition explores powerful responses to resilience, from personal survival and psychological recovery to strong community bonds and overcoming barriers.
🗳️ Five of the exhibiting artists have been shortlisted by an independent panel of judges. From those, visitors are encouraged to vote for their favourite artwork, with the winning artist being awarded the opportunity to stage a solo exhibition in Hartlepool Art Gallery at a later date.
🖼️ Alongside Resilience, visitors can also enjoy a companion exhibition, Hartlepool’s Resilience, which features objects and artworks from Hartlepool Borough Council’s own collection. The display highlights the enduring strength and spirit of the borough and its people.
The objects have been selected by long-standing Hartlepool Museum Service volunteers Roger Codner, Olwyn Hart, Russell McAndrew, John Oxley and Frances Wilson.
🗣️ John Oxley said: “Hartlepool is a proud town, full of resilient people. We wanted to capture that spirit in the artworks and objects we chose.”
🗣️ Frances Wilson added: “We didn’t always choose the paintings the curators might have selected, but after plenty of debate we chose those we felt best represented the resilience of Hartlepool people, past and present.”
🗣️ Gemma Ptak, Hartlepool Borough Council’s Director of Housing, Growth and Communities, said: “This exhibition is a powerful reflection of what resilience means to Hartlepool – from our shared history to the creativity and determination of people living and working here today.
🗣️ “It’s fantastic to see local artists and volunteers coming together to tell those stories, and I’d encourage residents and visitors alike to come along, enjoy the exhibition and help shape the future solo exhibition by voting for their favourite artwork.”
Entry to the exhibitions is free. Hartlepool Art Gallery – which is in Church Square - is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am–4pm.
🌐 For more information, visit www.culturehartlepool.com
📷 The images show an exterior shot of Hartlepool Art Gallery, views of the Resilience exhibition, the voting jars into one of which visitors to the Resilience exhibition can drop a token to vote for their favourite artwork, and two views of the Hartlepool’s Resilience exhibition.
