Discussing my visit on the phone, a couple of months ago, Nikki and I decided we would focus on the theme of partnership. The consortia behind East Durham Creates is unique in that it is made up of a community trust – whose stated aim is to alleviate the poverty and problems which have resulted from the pit-closures in the area; a museum, which is not physically in the region covered by the CPP funding; and an arts producing organisation which started in Newcastle but is now based in London. The partnership and the programme have had a long and difficult road to get to where they are now: Nikki grinning as she drives me from the station in Seaham to their office in Peterlee, telling me how excited she is about the programme and its potential to effect real change locally; and later, Malcolm, Chief Executive of East Durham Trust, saying that he has more faith and confidence in the power and importance of the arts now than he did when they were writing the funding bid.