Sting backs Baltic with major donation

A Tyneside arts venue has received support from one of the region’s most celebrated musicians as it launches a major fundraising campaign.

Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, in Gateshead, has announced a donation from Wallsend-born musician Sting to kickstart its £10 million Endowment Fund. 

Having recently welcomed its ten millionth visitor, the gallery aims to use the fund’s investment income to safeguard its creative programmes and free entry for “generations to come”.

Sarah Munro, Baltic’s director, says the fund will help offset rising costs and support ongoing exhibitions, learning and community work.

She said: “We are incredibly grateful to Sting for his generous donation which is a major step in establishing a crucially needed £10 million Endowment. 

“We are a much-loved gallery, welcoming 400,000 visitors through our doors each year, platforming artists, connecting communities and inspiring children and young people. 

“We need to preserve this for generations to come.”

Kirsty Lang, Baltic chair of trustees, added: “The North East of England has a long history of creativity. 

“New technologies that changed the world were invented in this region from the locomotive to the lightbulb and it is now the fastest growing region for video games development. 

“We are fiercely proud of our Tyneside location. 

“We want to nurture the creative spark in our young people so they can be optimistic about their future. 

“Sting’s generous gift will help us do that.”

Wallsend-born songwriter Sting has announced a donation to launch Baltic's Endowment Fund

Sting, a 17-time Grammy winner whose career has spanned five decades, has also announced he will headline a fundraising gala at Baltic on October 30 with an exclusive performance and Q&A.

He said: “For me this is about legacy. 

“The culture of the North East made me who I am, and I am proud of those roots.

“I want to acknowledge how lucky I have been and pay that debt back. 

“Giving to Baltic is a way of saying thank you and ensuring that the next generation of young people on Tyneside have access to arts and culture. 

“I’m hoping that my donation to Baltic’s Endowment Fund will encourage others to give. 

“We need to do everything we can to safeguard public funding through the Arts Council and bolster philanthropic giving. 

“This is about investing in the future of the North East. 

“It’s about unleashing the creativity of children and young people so they can dream and think big.”

The gala will also include an auction of artworks and experiences donated by artists including Damien Hirst, Anish Kapoor and Cornelia Parker, while South Tyneside singer-songwriter Nadine Shah will open the evening.

North East mayor Kim McGuinness added: “A big part of my mission as mayor is to inspire our children to think big and dream big from an early age, so that every child growing up in the North East has the confidence and skills to fulfil their potential. 

“Our cultural centres have a huge role to play so it is amazing to see Sting and Baltic come together to launch this new endowment to create exciting programmes and activities for years to come. 

“The endowment will make sure Baltic continues to inspire the creative talents we want to see in future generations.”

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