Tees Valley Artists of the Year Winners Announced
The Tees Valley Artists of the Year programme announced its 2026/27 recipients on 3 November at The Auxiliary in Middlesbrough.
Five creators from across the region will each receive almost £30,000, together with mentoring, business support and industry networking, for a twelve-month period that runs until September 2027.
Artists selected for the award
Hartlepool indie band Marketplace becomes the first group to win the award. The five-piece has performed at SXSW in Texas, at New Colossus in New York and at UK festivals such as The Great Escape and Y Not Festival. Their new EP, expected to drop in early 2027, will showcase a blend of jangly guitars and lyrical storytelling that reflects their hometown influences.
Dance artist Anthony Lo Giudice blends contemporary movement, theatre and visual storytelling. His recent projects have examined family, heritage and working-class life, and have been presented throughout the UK and Europe, including venues in Manchester and Brussels. He plans to develop a site-specific piece that will involve local communities during the award year.
Writer Carmen Marcus draws on mythology, folklore and local history. She is known for the novel How Saints Die and the award-winning play And the Earth Opened Up Under Her. Marcus will launch a collaborative project on regional oral traditions, partnering with schools and heritage groups to record stories that risk being lost.
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Visual artist Stuart Langley creates sculpture, installation and public art. A recent piece, a giant heart made from donated mobile phones, was displayed outside Middlesbrough Railway Station, drawing attention to electronic waste and community generosity. He intends to produce a new installation for a public space in Hartlepool later in the programme.
Singer-songwriter Jodie Nicholson produces chamber-pop and alternative music. Her single “Move” reached the BBC Radio 6 Music playlist and earned airplay on BBC Radio 1, expanding her audience beyond the North East.
The programme’s funding reflects a broader strategy to strengthen the creative sector, which contributes to cultural vitality and the local visitor economy. By investing in emerging talent, the scheme aims to raise the profile of Tees Valley arts on a national stage.
The grants will be disbursed over the next twelve months, with final reports due by September 2027, marking the conclusion of this award cycle.
