28/08/2026
Spent some time with Vikas today talking about GemArts and the incredible work they do in Gateshead, across Tyneside and right across the North East.
Vikas has dedicated decades to building something that gives people a chance to see their culture, their stories and their creativity reflected in the place they call home. Since 2001, GemArts has been a vital part of the cultural life of our region, from the Masala Festival to work with artists, schools and communities.
I particularly enjoyed seeing Playback / Rewind: South Asian Sound & Memory in the gallery at Gateshead Central Library. It uses music, photographs, records and memories to tell the story of South Asian communities in Gateshead — and the part they have played in shaping our town.
It’s a celebration of the South Asian community’s contribution to Gateshead — and of the generations of people who have made this town their home, built businesses, raised families, created culture and strengthened our communities.
They have helped make Gateshead the place it is today.
