In The Long Run: 30 Years of the Great North Run returns this year with a new version of the hit exhibition at South Shields Museum and Art Gallery, near where thousands of runners cross the finishing line every year.

The exhibition explores the history and significance of the world's most popular half-marathon, its origin and growth, as well as its role in reflecting and shaping the region's cultural identity.

Objects on show will include the Great North Run winners’ trophies, Brendan Foster’s Olympic and Commonwealth Games medals and Haile Gebrselassie’s running kit. In The Long Run will also present artwork by Sir Peter Blake, James Edwards and Suky Best.

Blake produced an exclusive set of prints Running Suite to celebrate the 30th staging of the Bupa Great North Run which explore the heritage of running, the event’s human element, its international pedigree and its extensive memorabilia. The two prints featured in this exhibition are ‘Tack Board’ and ‘Redheads’. Using images of the iconic half-marathon, cigarette cards, vintage photographs of runners, medals and posters, many of the found images and objects Sir Peter has appropriated are from the Bupa Great North Run archives or are sourced from the North East. Sir Peter’s mother was born in South Shields and Running Suite can be seen as Blake’s homage to the area.

Edwards is renowned for his depictions of iconic buildings and bridges of the North East and his Newcastle cityscapes are some of the most recognisable art to come out of the region in recent years. Best’s animated film About Running shows silhouettes of runners with their figures made visible as they pass each other, focussing on the shapes rhythms and pace of the participants.

SPECIAL GREAT NORTH RUN WEEKEND OPENING HOURS

Saturday 17 September: 11am - 4pm

Sunday 18 September: 11am - 4pm