Christmas shoppers urged to buy local to support our artists

A BOLD campaign encouraging people across the North East to shop small, shop local and support the region's artists and creative businesses has been launched in the run-up to tomorrow's Small Business Saturday.

- By EMILY GRAY

Intuitive artist Michelle Taylor Ward with one of her works

Floated by North East Cultural Freelancers (NECF), The Festive Rebellion is calling on the public to choose 'local art over global giants, switch mass-produced gifts for handmade treasures and help fuel the region's creative ecology.

With the cost-of-living crisis continuing to squeeze freelance creatives, this year's festive period is make-or-break for many independent makers, craft businesses, designers and artists.

"Shopping small is rebellious," says NECF, an organisation that supports a network of 6,000 freelancers working in the North East arts and culture sector.

"It's choosing people over corporations. Craft over convenience. Creative courage over mass-produced sameness."