History
GemArts is part of a larger organisation GVEMSG (Gateshead Visible Ethnic Minority Support Group). A unique charity that was set up in 1989 to provide support to minority ethnic, refugee and asylum seeker individuals and families settling in Gateshead. This support came and continues to come in the shape of positive integration of people into their new community.
GVEMSG has made it possible for people from black and minority ethnic, refugee and asylum seeker communities to access services such as the council, local healthcare and the police, as well as other statutory and private service providers. Early on we used community arts to support social inclusion and to promote inter-ethnic community relations through yearly celebrations of cultural events and regular concerts and workshops.
As time went by it became apparent that these events were reaching out to the wider community by creating greater involvement and enjoyment in diverse cultures and their respective arts.
In 2001 a pilot partnership was initiated between GVEMSG and the Sage Gateshead as part of Arts Council England's audience development programme. The aim being to execute a more concentrated and focused effort towards culturally diverse art and the promotion of its artists - as a result of this GemArts was born.
Today GemArts working under the umberella organsiation of GVEMSG is a successful and unique organisation which has established itself as a resourceful provider of arts in the North East of England. We deliver high quality concerts, events, festivals, workshops and commissions throughout the year working with a whole host of talented artists from all communities and across all art forms.