Great North Greats is a touring exhibition celebrating the millionth finish of the Bupa Great North Run and Tyneside's incredible sporting and industrial heritage. 

Telling the stories of individuals and communities, everyday triumphs and groundbreaking achievements, it is a celebration of all of the Great North Greats – ordinary people, extraordinary achievements.

The exhibition will feature 5 of the regions celebrated ‘greats’ include inventor Joseph Swan, industrialists William Armstrong and Rachel Parsons as well as sporting legends Harry Clasper and Tanni Grey-Thompson.

Presented alongside them will be a growing number of digital stories and oral histories, highlighting many of the regions unsung heroes and their stories of triumph against the odds.

Look out for Matt Stokes, GNR Million artist in residence, who will be producing a newspaper containing a selection of images from the collections at Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums. As the exhibition progresses along the route of the Bupa Great North Run and Stokes’ research develops, the number of pages will grow, forming a curated scrapbook of influential material for audience members to collect and take home. 

Opening day and family fun activities: Saturday 30th August

Special opening on the day of the Bupa Great North Run: Sunday 7th September