The Gem Trail, which comprises nine art installations, celebrates the often-overlooked stories of local North-East women and their significant contributions to the region’s rich history. It leads from Locomotion railway museum to the centre of Shildon, in order to encourage museum visitors to also visit the nearby town. Jo said: “We wanted to showcase some of the amazing female stories in our part of the world. The Trail was led by Discover Brightwater Landscape Partnership – a £3.3m landscape partnership based around the River Skerne, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and made possible by those who play the National Lottery – in partnership with Groundworks North East and Cumbria, Locomotion, Shildon Town Library, Shildon Council, Durham County Council, and Shildon Railway Institute. It was originally hoped the art trail would be completed in 2021, but plans were delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Source: The Times February 13, 2024 15:17 UTC