A NEW venue for exhibitions has opened on Teesside with a mixture of photography and creative writing.

The Museum of Hartlepool has created space for exhibitions in order to attract more visitors.

Its first display is called Northern Grit and features photographs from Middlesbrough-born Pat Maycroft, as well as poems and writings from North-East performing and writing collective Vane Women.

Black and white photographs of buildings, landscapes and still life spanning several years of Pat Maycroft's work provided Vane Women with inspiration for their literature.

The photography tries to find beauty in machines, derelict buildings and empty rooms. Ms Maycroft, a graduate in photography, recently won acclaim for her portrayals of the former coalmining area of the lower fells of south-west Durham.

Vane Women was formed in 1993 and takes its name from the Vane Terrace address of Darlington Arts Centre where the group first met. The women promote creative writing in schools and colleges across the region.

The museum, next to Hartlepool Historic Quay, is open daily from 10am to 5pm. The Northern Grit exhibition, which opened on Saturday, runs until Wednesday, May 5. Admission is free. For more details, call (01429) 860077.

Published: 20/04/2004