Transforming an empty shop into a year-round space for film
More than 2,600 visits were made to screenings, workshops and events, or to try out film making at The Burr of Berwick – a former empty shop transformed into a free exhibition, screening and events space as part of the Berwick Film and Media Arts Festival.
The Burr of Berwick invites responses to the histories, communities and stories of Berwick-upon-Tweed. Named after the distinctive Northumbrian ‘burr’ heard in people’s speech in and around Berwick, it was launched in 2024 with the support of a £20,000 grant from Create Berwick.
As Elisa Kay, the Festival’s deputy director, explained, the project transformed a long-held ambition into reality by establishing a permanent space for Berwick Film and Media Arts Festival on Bridge Street, in the centre of the town:
“The funding was a really important driver that enabled us to make use of an empty shop to establish this space for the festival in Berwick.”
Festival programmer, Dawn Bothwell, added: “It’s been a way of providing a constant, year round presence for the festival – as well as giving us a space where we can hold screenings, discussions and workshops.”
New skills, conversations and connections
Within The Burr of Berwick space, people will find a rotating film library exhibition and a space for workshops. There’s a vertical screen in the window which shows newly-commissioned films, and the building also functions as an office for the festival team.
“Over the last year, we hosted three film library exhibitions which attracted more than 800 visitors, three commissioned films were shown on the vertical screens, and we held three workshops, for anyone who wanted to learn new skills or more about film making,” said Dawn.
“The programme was rooted in the idea of film as a way of storytelling within communities and as a way of starting conversations and discussions. It also brought artists into the town to share skills and work with local creative practitioners. A side effect of this is that we are able to show people from elsewhere what a thriving arts community there is here, and what a great place Berwick is to live and work as a creative!”
After school clubs and young people’s programme
The programme includes after school clubs and film workshops with local schools, giving children and young people the opportunity to gain new skills and learn about careers in the arts and cultural sector.
41 pupils from Tweedmouth West School took part in a six-month film school; 60 young people from Berwick Academy attended an Into Film careers event; and 286 young people took part in a range of discussions, screenings and film-making workshops created especially to equip them with film-making skills, knowledge and inspiration.
Leveraging funding and securing a long term future
Receiving support from Create Berwick’s Cultural Resource Hub fund enabled Berwick Film and Media Arts Festival to apply for additional funding, helping to secure its long term future.
“The support from Create Berwick acted as seed funding giving us the security to take on a five year lease on the property and apply for more funding,” said Elisa Kay.
“It’s meant we can really embed the film festival in the town and help position Berwick as a thriving centre for film, creativity, and collaboration.”
The Burr of Berwick Film Library is open every Saturday, 12 – 4pm, at 22 Bridge Street, Berwick-upon-Tweed.
Create Berwick’s Cultural Resource Hubs funding continues to allow empty spaces in the town to be transformed into new creative hubs for workshops, exhibitions, concerts, performance, events and creative and communal activities. Find out more.
Create Berwick is a culture-led regeneration programme that aims to make Berwick one of the most distinctive, must-see cultural destinations in the country by investing in the arts, creativity and culture. Create Berwick is a designated Culture and Creative Zone (CCZ) and funded by the North East Combined Authority and Northumberland County Council.
(Photo above: Amelia Read Photography)
