“the past we inherit, the future we build”: itl at redhills village
Three days after launching the Creative Call from County Durham, Into the Light took our message into the heart of one of the North East's great celebrations of solidarity, community and working-class culture.
County Durham’s cultural story has always been shaped by people coming together. That spirit was impossible to miss at the Durham Miners’ Gala on Saturday 11 July, when Into the Light joined the first Redhills Village - a future-facing space bringing arts, culture, heritage and science into the heart of the event.
A Durham Miner’s Gala banner
We were so proud to be part of the day and huge congratulations to the team at Building Culture CIC who worked tirelessly to put everything together.
Our Director Julia, said:
"We came to Durham Miner's Gala this year, as part of the Redhills Village. The Gala is born out of our rich mining heritage, and the 2026 motto - "the past we inherit, the future we build" - is something we champion here at Into the Light. The Redhills Village and Into the Light are all about the future we're building. Through the launch of our Creative Call from County Durham, we're saying that creativity needs to be at the heart of that future.
"It's been brilliant to be joined by fellow partners, including Light Years at Durham University, No More Nowt, Northern Heartlands; and see some of our PLACE Lab initiatives, built by communities, for communities - all backing our shared call."
Redhills Village 2026
Earlier in the week, artists, communities, cultural organisations and decision-makers gathered at Durham Town Hall to launch the Creative Call from County Durham. The Gala gave us the chance to carry that call beyond the room: to meet people where they were, share the ideas behind it and invite more voices into the conversation.
In our marquee, visitors discovered more about Into the Light, and explored the five themes at the centre of the Creative Call: Access, Value, Connection, Community and Innovation. It was an opportunity to discuss what everyone can get involved in to help creativity thrive across the county.
We were delighted to also be joined by County Durham artist Zara Worth, whose Drawing Sculptures brought a playful, colourful and interactive presence to our marquee. Zara’s work invited people to create their own versions of the sculpture, and was inspired by the possibility that we all have the agency to rewrite the world around us and affect the change that we want to see.
Zara Worth’s artwork
Redhills is rooted in the history of collective action, mutual support and the belief that everyone should have a voice in shaping their future. The phrase at the heart of the day - “The past we inherit, the future we build” - has also travelled through County Durham’s City of Culture journey and into the foundations of Into the Light.
For us, honouring the past means asking what we are prepared to build now: more visible opportunities, fairer creative careers, stronger connections, community-led activity and room to experiment.
The Gala showed that culture does not belong only in designated venues or formal programmes. It lives in banners, brass bands, stories, songs, public art, shared memory and the simple act of gathering together.
Into the Light was proud to stand alongside the artists, organisations and communities making Redhills Village possible. It was a reminder that the Creative Call from County Durham has to travel - into towns and villages, workplaces and community spaces, festivals and public conversations; and we hope that people find their own ways to bring it to life.
The past is something we inherit together. The future will be shaped by what we choose to do next.
Official Durham Miner’s Gala artwork
Find out more about our Creative Call from County Durham