THE first Culture magazine of the new year gives us pause for thought. It was eight years ago, in February 2005, that the very first magazine was published.

It was a very exciting occasion for the Culture team. What had been happening around us in the North East more than merited a glossy magazine, we thought, and here it was.

The benefits of enormous investment in the region’s cultural infrastructure were being seen and appreciated. We were all basking in a rosy glow.

It’s a little different now. The talk is of funding cuts. In heated debate, the value of investing in culture at all has been called into question.

Austerity can breed fear, anger and resentment. Allies can turn against each other.

We celebrate the 15th anniversary of The Angel of the North by putting the famous sculpture – looking very seemly in the recent snow – on our front cover.

But in this issue we also wanted to see if the spirit that resulted in the country’s then biggest sculpture still persists.

A word with six cultural leaders from across the region reveals that far from being bitter about funding cuts, they are challenged by them.

They even seem to relish the challenge, gritting their teeth to serve the audiences they have built relationships with over the years. It is very heartening and inspiring.

Where would we be without books and music, comedy and stage plays? Well, Culture magazine would be a thin little product, that’s for sure.

Luckily it isn’t. As you will see, there is plenty going on in the North East still - despite the climate, real and financial.

Meet the lovely light-footed lads of Les Ballets Trockadero De Monte Carlo, laugh with comedian Jimeoin, go back in time with Beamish, savour the warm sound of vinyl with Mr Drayton and – in preparation for the mouthwatering Taste pages at the back of the magazine – relish the notion of Canary gold with North East theatre company Théâtre Sans Frontières.

Another cultural year begins and once again we’re cramming a quart into a pint pot.

In the next issue – and increasingly in the run-up to summer – we will be reporting on the Festival of the North East. Cuts or no cuts, that has the potential to be one of the greatest celebrations of the region’s culture and achievements that we’ve ever seen.

The Sage Gateshead had recently opened and Seven Stories would do so in the summer.

David Whetstone

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