ABOUT
Into the Light is a partnership project, delivered by cultural organisations across County Durham, led by a Programme Director and Programme Co-ordinator, who report to the Into the Light Programme Steering Group.
Into the Light is a partnership between Beamish Museum, The Bowes Museum, Creativity Works (Create North), Durham County Council, Durham University, Ensemble ’84, The Forge, No More Nowt, Northern Heartlands and TIN Arts. It is funded by Durham County Council, the National Lottery through Arts Council England, the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and Durham University. Our work is supported by Culture Durham and Visit County Durham.
Meet the team
Julia handleman-smith — PROGRAMME DIRECTOR
A former cultural diplomat with the British Council, Julia has led arts and education programmes across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East including a major global programme to commemorate the World War I centenary between 2014-2018.
Julia is passionate about North East England and believes there is a real opportunity to drive a new cultural revolution in County Durham though Into the Light to create long-lasting positive change.
Away from Into The Light, Julia is an accomplished cellist and composer, having studied music at Durham University and is the Founder and Creative Director of ‘Our Symphony,’ a collaborative music programme that encourages communities to express their lived experiences through sound. Her dedication to mentoring and community engagement is also evident in her roles as a mentor for The Prince’s Trust UK, Trustee for Groundswell Arts, and Chair of New Note Orchestra and Projects.
Alison Whelan — Lead Evaluator
Dr Alison Whelan is Lead Evaluator for the Into the Light Programme. Now based at Durham University, she was previously a Research Associate at Newcastle University and a freelance Research Consultant specialising in collaborative curriculum innovation. She combines a strong foundation in classroom teaching with research expertise to design and evaluate impactful learning experiences across schools, cultural organisations and communities.
Passionate about cultural and creative education, she aims to broaden opportunities for everyone to engage with the arts, heritage and diverse cultural experiences, fostering curiosity and connection. Her work thrives on collaboration, building partnerships that unite educators, communities and the cultural sector to create meaningful, sustainable change
Elinor Creaby-Attwood — Programme Coordinator
Elinor brings a wealth of experience to Into the Light, having worked across the North East’s creative and cultural industries – including talent and skills development, partnership building, and creative programming.
Born and raised in County Durham, she is passionate about developing sustainable, community driven arts opportunities in the region- fostering collaboration and striving to build access pathways for all.
Most recently, Elinor has worked with Creative UK, Generator NE, AMP Music (previously NYMAZ), and Queen’s Hall Arts Hexham.
Away from Into the Light, Elinor is the Artistic Director of Saltburn Folk Festival – a multivenue festival in the Tees Valley which champions community driven folk music, providing a platform for emerging and nationally acclaimed artists.