Don't Miss Baltic & The Glasshouse's Summer Block Party
Baltic's annual Summer Block Party is back on 4th July - and this year, they're teaming up with their neighbours at The Glasshouse
Expect a proper Tyne-side takeover– inside, outside, and on the riverside. This summer extravaganza includes the return of the annual Art Car Boot Fair, with 50 stalls of arts, crafts and more. There are two brand new exhibitions open in Baltic’s biggest galleries, plus artist talks, free tours, drop-in creative sessions and more.
At The Glasshouse you can explore their sprawling makers market, park yourself in a sun patch, or just people watch with a cold beer (or iced latte) in hand as their resident DJ keeps the feel‑good tracks coming.
The day rounds off with a sizzling Summer Preview Party with pizza, cocktails and DJs.
Check out some of the line-up below, or click here to find out more.
Art Car Boot Fair
11am–5pm, free, drop in
Art Car Boot Fair returns as the centrepiece of Baltic's Summer Block Party, showcasing artists and makers from across the North and beyond. Enjoy locally-sourced food and drinks, all soundtracked by feel-good DJ beats. Presenting a wide range of affordable artworks, the fair is the perfect opportunity to discover something unique, meet the artists, and soak up the atmosphere.
Tish Murtha & Kuba Ryniewicz: Close to Home
10am–6pm, free, drop-in
Curated by Baltic, Close to Home is a new and expansive exhibition of acclaimed work by the late Tish Murtha, presented alongside work by Kuba Ryniewicz. Born in South Shields in 1956, Murtha returned to Newcastle after university to document life in her community of Elswick. Her photographs capture the social impact of industrial decline with honesty, empathy and urgency, offering a powerful account of working-class life in the North East. Her work has been seen depicted most recently on album and record sleeves by Mercury Prize-winning North East artist Sam Fender.
Chitra Ganesh: Journey to the Great Below
10am–6pm, free, drop-in
Visitors can experience the work of Brooklyn-based artist Chitra Ganesh in Journey to the Great Below. This exhibition will feature a new animation, newly commissioned sculptural works and a site-specific wall drawing, alongside a selection of recent paintings, prints, works on paper and mixed media works. There’s also the option to pre-book a free Artist & Curator Tour of the exhibition.
Queer Pleasure Archive in Baltic Library
10am–5.45pm, free, drop in
Take a fresh look at the Baltic Library collection through a queer lens with the Queer Pleasure Archive. This is a DIY archive art project led by Newcastle-based artist Sarah Li, highlighting experiences of queer joy and pleasure that can sometimes be hard to find or access in traditional collections.
Collage Collective Alphabet by Foundation Press
1pm–2.30pm, free, drop in
Celebrate collaboration and togetherness and join this group project designed by Foundation Press using worksheets, templates and recycled risograph prints. Find out more here.
Summer Preview Party
6pm–midnight, free, booking essential
The day’s festivities culminate in a sizzling Summer Preview Party with a late-night viewing of the two new exhibitions. The party kicks off with a Dhol performance on Baltic Square, presented in collaboration with GemArts. There's also pizza, cocktails, beer and soft drinks in Baltic Riverside overlooking the Tyne. DJs will provide the soundtrack – make sure you book your tickets here.
Summer Block Party: Baltic x The Glasshouse
Saturday 4th July 2026, from 10am
(Baltic 10am–midnight, The Glasshouse 11am–3pm)
