Game Changers: Summer Extravaganza

This special day marks the first in a line of family-friendly events throughout the summer, as part of our Game Changers summer anniversary festival! Join us FREE for a host of activities, to celebrate 170 years of the Mining Institute, and 150 years of our building – home to the Institute and some of the region’s biggest ‘Game Changers’ since 1872.

What’s On

• Performances from Backworth Colliery band – 11am, 12:30pm and 1:45pm

• Drop-in LEGO ® engineering challenges – between 10am – 4pm

• Drop-in Papercraft & more – between 10am – 4pm

• Unique heritage tours of our building, led by Past Presidents of the Mining Institute (must be booked separately and in advance. Click here to book)

• Our headline exhibition and festival’s namesake, ‘Game Changers’, will also open to the public on this day, running between Saturday 16th July to mid-September (on select dates). The exhibition will uncover the Game Changers – individuals, inventions and innovations – tied to the Institute throughout its now 170-year lifespan, and will also look to the future of innovation in the North East.

Date and Time

Saturday 16th July, drop-in between 10am – 4pm

Booking information

Each person attending, including adults accompanying children, must have their own ticket.

Tickets are free, but if you would like to make a small donation to support the charitable work of The Common Room, it would be hugely appreciated.

Children must be supervised at all times by a responsible adult.

About our Game Changers anniversary festival

The Common Room is hosting a free anniversary festival throughout the summer, celebrating the North East’s mining and engineering past, present and future innovations. The festival, called ‘Game Changers’, is delivered in partnership with the North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers (known to many as the Mining Institute) and will offer something for everyone, from live music, family science shows and workshops, to an exhibition and unique building tours.

The festival marks 170 years of the Mining Institute and 150 years of The Common Room building, which has been the home of the Institute and some of the region’s most pioneering minds – or ‘Game Changers’ – throughout the years, including engineers Robert Stephenson, Lord Armstrong and Nicholas Wood.

The Game Changers anniversary festival has been made possible thanks to National Lottery Players, via funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

To find out more, click here.

Additional information

Location: The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle NE1 1SE

Our building is fully accessible – if you have any queries about accessibility, please contact lucy.stockdale@thecommonroom.org.uk.

The Common Room is taking a number of precautions to mitigate the risk to the public regarding COVID-19. Visitors will be encouraged to wear a face-covering (unless they have a medical exemption) and to practice social distancing. For further information on our COVID-19 protocol please visit thecommonroom.org.uk/about-the-common-room