The Auxiliary Need Your Help

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Music

The Auxiliary Need Your Help.

The Auxiliary, one of Teesside’s most vital cultural organisations, has been unable to reopen its redeveloped building since August 2025 following a prolonged dispute between a local property developer and Northern Powergrid. A substation required to connect electricity supply to the building is located in a private car park on Station Street and access to it has been blocked on three separate occasions between August 2025 and April 2026, leaving The Auxiliary absorbing the impact of the delays.

Over the past two years, the organisation has been undertaking a major redevelopment of its 13,000 sq ft warehouse space, backed by Arts Council England, Middlesbrough Development Corporation, Tees Valley Combined Authority and Middlesbrough Council, with the aim of creating an accessible hub for studios, exhibitions, workshops, events and gigs. The Auxiliary draws over 30,000 people to Teesside each year. The ongoing situation has forced the cancellation of planned community programmes, work with children and young people, artist residencies and scheduled events. Director Liam Slevin says: “We all want Middlesbrough to grow and be a better place to live and work, but our so-called neighbour seems to want the opposite.”

The Auxiliary is now asking for your support. If you’re a Middlesbrough resident, email Andy McDonald, Labour MP for Middlesbrough. Outside the area? Contact Northern Powergrid directly. Ready-to-send email templates are available on their website, add your name and hit send.

Find the email templates and get involved at https://www.theauxiliary.co.uk/news/we-need-your-help