Made Here. Shared Everywhere – An Introduction to Tees Valley’s Creative Economy

EVENT DETAILS

Venue: Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art Date: Thursday, 23rd April 2026 Time: 18:00 - 20:30

In partnership with:

The creative sector in Tees Valley is diverse and far-reaching, shaping place, regeneration, liveability, the economy, tourism, and perceptions of the region.

In addition to hosting the 2026 Turner Prize and recently being shortlisted as a UK City of Culture, Middlesbrough is also the UK’s fastest-growing digital cluster outside London.

This is reflected in Tees Valley’s Local Growth Plan, with Creative and Digital identified as a priority sector. Tees Valley’s Investment Zone is the only UK Investment Zone focused on Digital and Creative industries, supercharging the region as an engine room of creative production.

Tees Valley´s creative and digital economy is thriving. Join us to explore future sector plans, meet the entrepreneurs, freelancers, and companies behind some of the region´s most exciting developments, and see how your business can engage.

Point North is a charity and a grant making organisation. We raise funds through our donors – people and businesses who want a better today and a brighter tomorrow for local people across County Durham and Tees Valley. We then distribute those funds as grants to community groups that are making a difference across our region.

Running order:

5:30pm: Exclusive opportunity to experience the Story of the Middlesbrough Collection with Mr Alan Morley, Artist, Writer & Secretary of the Cleveland Art Society

6:00pm: Registration with tea and coffee, light supper served and networking
6:30pm: Introduction from our chair, Jane Reynolds MBE
6.35pm: Welcome from Dr Laura Sillars, Dean of Culture & Creativity & Director MIMA
6.45pm: Chris Cooke, Mayor, Middlesbrough Borough Council
6.55pm: Charlie Kemp, Tees Valley Combined Authority
7.05pm: Creators panel with Lou Tonner (Wander), Ishy Din (Freelancer), Mark Hollander (Hullabaloo), Henry Carden (Quiet Crown), Olly Bennett (Cardboard Sword Games)
7.25pm: Presentation from Keren Parmley, The Freelancer Network
7.35pm: Creative Communities panel with Phil Douglas (Curious Arts ), Anna Byrne (Creative Factory), Dom Somers (Festival of Thrift), Heather Minto (Tees Valley Museums)

7.55pm: Michelle Cooper, CEO, Point North
8.05pm: Bianca Robinson, CEO Sleepout

8.10pm: Networking
8.30pm: Close

Parking

Mima has limited parking and we would therefore suggest guests use public carparks within the vicinity. Suggestions are as follows. Please note both are 24hr and require payment:

Emily Street https://www.yorkshire.com/middlesbrough/parking/emily-street-car-park?srsltid=AfmBOopHkSdz_Iffm3xjMT-hFh4OA90pGVnB5y04B57Cv3OhjlDelBmB

Cleveland Centre https://www.clevelandcentre.co.uk/find-us/

Member invitations will be issued by direct email.

Guest booking: We enable six guests to attend each of our events. If you have not attended one of our events in the past, and would like to come to an event to find out if the club is something you would like to be part of, you will be able to register your place on a future event, please get in touch info@teesvalleybusinessclub.co.uk for further information.

All places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.