The Great Exhibition of the North is a two-month exhibition, celebrating art, culture, and design in the North of England.
Culture Minister Ed Vaizey said: "The Great Exhibition of North is a fantastic opportunity to promote the very best of Northern art, culture and design.“Investment in our arts and culture not only benefits these sectors but, as we have seen from Hull being named UK City of Culture 2017, can drive regeneration of whole towns and cities."
The competition launched in April 2016 with closing date set as 30 June 2016. And bids were welcomed from the North of England (defined as Yorkshire and the Humber, the North West, and the North East.
Nine bids were received, including Halifax, Harrogate, Scunthorpe, St Helens and Whitehaven with Blackpool, Bradford, Newcastle-Gateshead and Sheffield selected as the shortlist.
Newcastle-Gateshead winning bid
On 11 October 2016 it was announced that Newcastle-Gateshead had been chosen to host the Great Exhibition of the North. The Tyneside bid was declared the winner on the recommendation of the Great Exhibition Board chaired by Sir Gary Verity who said, "Newcastle-Gateshead put forward an exciting and innovative bid to host the Great Exhibition of the North. Their ambitious plans will showcase fantastic venues across the city and highlight their unique heritage, culture and design. People from across the country can expect an amazing show in summer 2018".