WOW and S&DR200 announce The Hope Brigade North East

14 Jan 2026
A group of 11 people stand on stage smiling. There is are the backs of audience members standing up in the foreground, and a sign on stage saying WOW Women of the World

Press Story

PRESS RELEASE -  14 JANUARY 2026

IMAGES ARE AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD HERE

WOW - WOMEN OF THE WORLD AND S&DR200 STOCKTON & DARLINGTON RAILWAY ANNOUNCE THE HOPE BRIGADE NORTH EAST 

  • A NEW PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION PROFILING 26 EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN AND NON-BINARY PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE NORTH EAST WHO ARE LEADING CHANGE THROUGHOUT THE REGION AS PART OF S&DR200.
  • PHOTOGRAPHED BY AWARD-WINNING PHOTOGRAPHER JOANNE COATES, THE 26 IMAGES WILL FORM A POWERFUL EXHIBITION THAT WILL TRAVEL TO LOCATIONS ACROSS THE NORTH EAST IN MARCH 2026.
  • THE HOPE BRIGADE NORTH EAST IS A SPECIAL REGIONAL EDITION OF WOW’S EVER-GROWING PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT THAT HIGHLIGHTS TRAILBLAZING WOMEN GIRLS AND NON-BINARY PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE WORLD.
  • THE EXHIBITION WILL LAUNCH WITH A SPECIAL EVENT AT MIDDLESBROUGH THEATRE ON 8 MARCH, INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY WITH S&DR200. 

WOW - Women of the World and Stockton & Darlington Railway - S&DR200 have today announced a North East edition of The Hope Brigade, WOW’s global photography exhibition now in its sixth year and counting that offers a platform to trailblazing women, girls and non-binary people from across the world. The new edition follows The Hope Brigade photography projects in more than 10 regions across the world from Karachi to Manchester, Athens to Rio with more than 150 people now showcased as part of the series. 

This special regional edition of the project follows on from WOW’s first ever North East festival (WOW North East) which took place in Autumn 2025 as part of the 200th anniversary celebrations of the first journey on the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR200). Created in partnership with S&DR200, The Hope Brigade North East will spotlight women, girls and non-binary people whose work, creativity and activism are reshaping communities across the North East of England reflecting the 12 curatorial pillars of WOW’s work. 

Consisting of 26 different portraits shot by award-winning local photographer Joanne Coates, the same number of miles as the Stockton & Darlington Railway, the exhibition will launch on International Women’s Day at a location to be announced and online as a digital exhibition on WOW’s website before travelling to different locations across the region throughout March including Shildon, Newcastle, Darlington and more. 

Selected via an open nominations process, the individuals photographed for the exhibition have been included based on their work across a variety of areas that reflect the forces shaping gender equity in the region. Nominees include: dancer, performer and clog-dancing advocate Laura Connolly; activist Heather Wood, who is known for her work in the Women Against Pit Closures movement in the 1980s; inspirational skater and surfer Sam Metcalfe; activist Ann Ming MBE who changed the legal framework for Double Jeopardy; Founder of Boro Doughnut Emi Imai a champion of the doughnut economic model;  Vici Wreford-Sinnott an activist in the field of disability and disability arts; award-winning Chartered Accountant Jordan Groody; Rumana Yasmin Director of Bok Bok Books; charity worker and refugee advocate Susan Mansaray; Rie Pearson founder of Be Kind, No Excuses which helps teenage girls recognise abusive behaviours in intimate relationships; foster carer Eileen; Bollywood Dance Artist Ravinda Cheema; Advanced Wellbeing Practitioner Esther Walton; local dance teacher Teissy Easton; and comedian, writer and poet Kate Fox. Further individuals will be announced in the New Year.

Originally conceived in 2020, The Hope Brigade is a photography series that brings together the stories of hundreds of activists, scientists, educators, artists and more to tell a story of global feminism and celebrate the women, girls and non-binary people leading change across urgent global issues – photographed by an amazing roster of female talent. To date exhibitions have taken place in London, Davos, Athens and Manchester, after first launching as a major Google Arts and Culture project. 

To launch the North East edition of The Hope Brigade, WOW will hold a special event at Middlesbrough Theatre on International Women’s Day 2026 (8 March). Hosted by WOW Founder Director Jude Kelly, WOW North East: International Women’s Day Celebration will feature individuals from the exhibition in conversation, including Teissy Easton, Jordan Groody and Kate Fox. An afternoon of local stories, inspiring interviews and reasons to be hopeful, audiences will hear more about The Hope Brigade’s own experiences, their work in their specific fields and what gives them optimism in a world where the news often feels relentless. Tickets will go on sale on 14 January with more line-up and special guests to be announced. 

Colette Bailey, WOW’s CEO said: "Growing up in Hartlepool, my early life was shaped by so many strong female role models who instilled in me a life-long commitment to social justice and equity. It's wonderful to have the opportunity now, as WOW's CEO, to bring The Hope Brigade photography project to the wider north east region. The project has happened all over the world – and each time, gives people the opportunity to discover members of their communities who are driving positive change. We had dozens of nominations, the 26 who are part of the exhibition are just the tip of the iceberg of the people and initiatives that are tirelessly driving progress across the north east in both big and small ways. These 26 now join more than 150 women and non-binary people across six continents who have taken part in The Hope Brigade since 2020. 

"After the enormous success of the first ever WOW North East, we're thrilled to be partnering again with S&DR200 to launch this special North East edition and highlight the many incredible people in the region."

Niccy Hallifax, S&DR200 Festival Director, said: "WOW North East was one of the major highlights of S&D200, bringing together hundreds of people to celebrate the many stories – past and present – of women and non-binary people across the North East doing incredible things. We're thrilled to continue the spirit of the festival with this landmark exhibition showcasing 26 portraits –  one for each mile of the S&DR200 railway – of extraordinary people making real change in their communities. We hope you'll all join us on International Women's Day at Middlesborough Theatre to celebrate them and the legacy of S&DR200."

Founded by Jude Kelly, WOW is a global alliance of 33 partners working together to drive an equal and inclusive future for women, girls and non-binary people. Since its inception in 2010, WOW has delivered 150 festivals and programmes, across 71 places and six continents, inspiring millions of participants to take action and make change. 

Attracting five million people worldwide to date, WOW has supported thousands of activists, brought previously taboo subjects into mainstream dialogue and acted as a catalyst for the launch and success of countless campaigns. WOW's unique methodology connects a diverse range of people and audiences to a multitude of stories and perspectives, both informing and galvanising them to make positive change, including through WOW 365, its new digital events platform offering people the WOW Festival feeling all year round. 

After attending a WOW event 64% take action and 84% of people feel a gender equal world is possible compared to just 58% who haven't attended. In its 15th anniversary year, events and festivals took place in Baltimore, Athens, Istanbul, Lahore, Rio, Rotherham, Edinburgh, across the North East and Brisbane and Gladstone in Australia. Upcoming 2026 festivals include Karachi and Athens this spring, and Cairns in September.  

The WOW Foundation is proudly supported by its Global Founding Partner Bloomberg. 

WOW North East is presented by S&DR200 & WOW - Women of the World. The Hope Brigade North East is part of the S&DR200 Legacy programme and is supported by the North East Combined Authority.

ENDS 

For further information please contact:

Kate Hassell kate@breadandbutterpr.uk 

Chloe Heard chloe@breadandbutterpr.uk

About The WOW Foundation 

The WOW Foundation was created by Jude Kelly CBE in 2018 to run the global movement that is WOW - Women of the World Festivals. The Festivals began in the UK in 2010, launched by Kelly at the Southbank Centre London, where she was Artistic Director, to celebrate women and girls, taking a frank look at what prevents them from achieving their potential, raising awareness globally of the issues they face, and discussing solutions together. 

To date, WOW has reached six million people in 45 locations on six continents, in locations including Australia, Brazil, China, Egypt, Finland, Greece, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Somaliland, the UK and the USA. 

Over the last 15 years the Festivals have developed a reputation as a space for world renowned artists, activists, thinkers and performers including Angela Davis, Malala Yousafzai, Annie Lennox, Patrick Stewart, Baroness Doreen Lawrence and Salma Hayek, to come and participate, alongside thousands of women and girls who don’t have public profiles but are doing amazing things. WOW provides platforms for people of all kinds, changes attitudes, brings communities together and provides a unique space for people to work together towards gender equity in their own communities.

One example of the Festival’s impact came in 2015, with the founding of the Women’s Equality Party by Sandi Toksvig and Catherine Mayer. 

In 2018 Kelly left the Southbank Centre to run The WOW Foundation full time as a charity working to build, convene and sustain a global movement that believes a gender equal world is possible and desirable through festivals and empowering women and girls. The unique festival model creates numerous pathways for participants to take part in WOW projects, amplify their own causes, or start new initiatives which have a wide impact on communities. It is the biggest, most comprehensive and most significant festival dedicated to presenting work by women and promoting equity for women and girls. In 2025 WOW launched WOW 365, a major new online events platform giving people access WOW events all year-round.

WOW Festival was originally produced and presented by Southbank Centre. 

The President of WOW - Women of the World is Her Majesty The Queen. 

About S&DR200

S&DR200 is delivered by Darlington Borough Council, Durham County Council and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council. The S&DR200 festival took place across 2025 and offered something for everyone, with highlights throughout the year including a recreation of the first journey on the Stockton and Darlington railway with a newly commissioned replica of Locomotion No. 1, free large-scale outdoor events, exhibitions focusing on the wider untold  history of the communities and the railways effect on the society we live in today  and bringing together paintings of national significance, botanical and sensory installations, iconic locomotives, and newly commissioned public artworks showcased in public spaces, libraries, and world-class museums. S&DR200 continues in 2026 with the Launch of Discovery Trail, Perfume at Preston Park Museum & a community engagement programme.