TELEVISION presenter Lauren Laverne has helped kickstart a new North-East culture partnership which she hopes will help the region “shout its achievements from the rooftops”.

The Sunderland-born BBC Radio 6 Music DJ joined Northumbrian folk star Kathryn Tickell and others for a launch event Durham Castle today (Wednesday, July 17).

The 35-year-old former Kenickie singer said: “As North-East people we’re not show offs. We don’t shout our achievements from the rooftops.

“But this is about everybody coming together. Art and culture gives a lot to the North-East economy and enriches the lives of people living in the region, both of which are very important.”

Ms Tickell added: “Anything that helps us to shout about the North-East a bit more has got to be a good thing and that’s what this culture partnership is seeking to do.

“We’ve got so much to be proud of and I don’t think we do enough to make a fuss about it.”

The Culture Partnership involves all 12 North-East councils, arts and culture groups, businesses, educational organisations and others.

It has been two years in the planning, led by the Association of North East Councils (Anec).

Sunderland City Council leader Paul Watson, Anec’s chair, said it would bring strategic oversight to the region’s varied cultural programme, helping to co-ordinate events.

It would not suit the region for Durham’s Lumiere light festival to clash with Stockton International Riverside Festival, for example, he added.

It is hoped the partnership will build on the recent Festival of the North East and the ongoing Lindisfarne Gospels programme.

Coun Watson said: “We very much see this new partnership as a strong voice for culture across the North-East at a time when it is more important than ever to maintain our profile, promote our strengths and assets and have influence in decisions about future investments and opportunities.

“Culture has been a key factor in the economic and creative growth of the North-East and the creation of the Culture Partnership demonstrates that North-East England recognises the value of a vibrant future for arts and culture.”