On October 21st the new Mining Art Gallery will open in Bishop Auckland.

This collection of works by local artists, most of whom were miners themselves, has been brought together by Dr Robert McManners and Gillian Wales.

It provides an opportunity for both local people and visitors from elsewhere to learn much about the cultural heritage of our communities.

Some special, free events have been arranged to honour the mining community and its legacy and to celebrate the opening of the new gallery.

They will take place on Wednesday October 11th with the title Out of Darkness.

The first event at 2pm is a reflective Service of Peace at St Mary’s RC Church in Vart Road.

It will be an opportunity for people to see the superb Tom McGuiness stained glass windows there.

The evening event at 7:30pm at St Anne’s Church in the Market Place will be a time of celebration and sharing.

Michael Chaplin and John Cornish will share stories about their fathers, the writer Sid Chaplin and the artist Norman Cornish.

Bob McManners will also be sharing stories about how some of the paintings were obtained.

Gareth Davies-Jones, who was artist in residence at the Mining Institute in Newcastle, will be singing songs about coal mining with Bethany Elen Coyle.

Contributions from the floor will be welcome. For more information about the events, call David Pott on 07932 790525.