2012 was a big year for us here at Great North Run Culture. We’re incredibly proud of our programme which included new commissions from Mark Wallinger, Douglas Gordon, Dan Holdsworth, Kate Fox and Reuben Henry & Karin Kihlberg.

We want to say a huge thanks to the 663,000 of you who saw our exhibitions and came to our programme of events, workshops, family activities and artist talks. 

90% of visitors rated their experience as positive, and around three quarters said they would recommend our programme to a friend.

One audience member who saw Douglas Gordon’s The End of Civilisation at the Tyne Theatre in Newcastle said, "The sign of a good artwork in my book is one that stays in my mind after viewing, affects the way I see the world around me, and makes me ask lots of questions, and this one certainly did.” In fact, lots of you said the work was thought-provoking and original, and many of you told us you felt inspired and uplifted. 

Through TV, radio and the press we reached an audience of over three million people, including people who saw highlights from our programme on BBC ONE as part of the Great North Run coverage, broadcast in glorious high definition for the first time.

A special thanks goes out to everyone who took the time to give us feedback – either in person at an event, using the Twitter hashtag #GNRC12 or by filling in our survey. We picked names at random and sent four lucky winners a signed Mark Wallinger Camera Running poster last week. But more importantly, we’re using what you told us to shape our plans for next year – watch this space as they say. Or better still, sign up for our e-newsletter, follow us on Twitter or find us on Facebook to be the first to get the latest updates and news on next year’s programme.

We’re also very grateful to our funders Arts Council England and the Bupa Great North Run, and to our new partners at Northumbrian Water for supporting our free education programme In Motion. And last but certainly not least, a big thanks to all the partners, volunteers and venues we work with every year that make Great North Run Culture possible.

Have a wonderful Christmas and see you all next year!