With its theatres, festivals and galleries, the Tees Valley is home to numerous arts and entertainment venues and events. Ian McNeal finds out more. You don't have to look very hard at the local arts scene to find numerous great reasons to live in the Tees Valley. Teesside is home to some of the country's innovative regional arts venues, its most exciting festivals and has provided the home to hugely talented artists. The most recent example that the inspiration Teesside provides is Craig Hornby's tremendous Century In Stone film, which outsold Hollywood blockbusters during its cinema run. The film's history of Eston's ironstone mining past proved a massive hit with Teesside audiences and has now seen its popularity grow with its release on video and DVD. Alongside filmmakers such as Craig Hornby, authors such as Thornaby's Pat Barker, Hartlepool's Philippa Gregory and Middlesbrough artist Mackenzie Thorpe are just some of the numerous talents Teesside has created and continues to create today. Teesside has even brought out the best from those not from area - Devon-born Joe Cornish's stunning landscape photography now hangs in homes across the region and further afield. Meanwhile several venues across the area provide a wide range of high quality arts establishments. Whether it's catching a play, the latest blockbusting film, top comedians or the latest bands, Tees Valley venues can attract the biggest names. The Arc, in Stockton, alongside Teesside Unversity, shows a range of films rarely seen outside major cities. And after initial financial trouble, it has now established itself as a leading North-east arts venue while also providing a popular range of arts classes. Billingham Forum recently fought off demolition plans and remains a popular theatre and leisure complex. And Darlington Civic Theatre continues to attract major touring productions while its sister venue, Darlington Arts Centre, offers a more intimate venue for plays. One of the most exciting arts venues is currently under construction. The £14m Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (Mima) is being built in central Middlesbrough and is set to join The Baltic, on Tyneside, and Bowes Museum, in Country Durham, as a leading North-east gallery. Mima will showcase leading artists as well as the town's internationally renowned collections of ceramics and jewellery - in a stunning new building - part of a £19m development of Middlesbrough town centre. But it is not just the traditional arts scene where the Tees Valley is thriving. The Empire nightclub in Middlesbrough has long been acclaimed as one of the UK's best dance venues and has attracted numerous top level DJs. The venue, alongside Middlesbrough Town Hall and the Cornerhouse, Stockton's Georgian Theatre, and The Studio in Hartlepool, has also provided a home for a thriving live music scene on Teesside. Alongside the gigs held at the venues throughout the year, Middlesbrough is also home to the annual Music Live event which has seen countless big names including Keane, Razorlight, Bloc Party and The Darkness all perform before hitting the big time as well as providing a showcase for local bands and different music styles. Entertainment from even further afield is brought to Teesside with Stockton International Riverside Festival -the UK's finest street arts festival. Now in its 18th year, the festival provides an extraordinary range of world class outdoor productions and street theatre. Not to be outdone, the Billingham International Folklore Festival is celebrating its 41st year and is the largest arts festival of its kind in the UK. Meanwhile, more than 27,000 people enjoyed the Middlesbrough Mela, which has now become one of the most spectacular multi-cultural events in the North-east. The festivals, the venues and the talent all show that the Tees Valley has something for the culture vulture in everyone. | 
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