As the theatre turns 40, we've embarked on a bold new project. Throughout 2010 we will showcase the work of 40 artists from around the world in what we are calling 'a global conversation about Northernness'.

Artists might be from the North of their country or continent, or their work explores Northernness in an engaging or unexpected way. The programme will include theatre makers, visual artists, writers, photographers and musicians who will have both a presence in the building (on one of our stages, exhibition spaces or somewhere unexpected) as well as here, in our interactive online space.

Every few weeks we will be announcing new elements to the programme, as we make our way to 40 conversations, so keep checking for updates and additions. 

So far we've seen work from Middlesbrough and Scotland, from Quebec City and North Vietnam, and even as far north as the Arctic Circle; we've had installations and exhibitions, plenty of conversations and a great deal of imagination from all the artists involved. But the discussion is far from over.

Stretching right through to the end of 2010, we've even more Northern-influenced work to come; Hugh Hughes comes up to us from North Wales with his show 360; Kate Fox offers her own poetic take on being a Northerner in Kate Fox News; North East illustrators Set of Drawers explore what the north means to them in a brand new exhibition; a specially commissioned sound and videoscape from Peter Norrman and Leif Jordansson with n.waves, and the fantastic culmination of our birthday year with Northern Spirit: A Pop-Art Anthology About Growing Up in the North.

For more information about Northern Stages so far, visit www.northernstages.co.uk

And we'd like to hear what 'north' means to you too. To join the discussion, visit www.northernstages.co.uk/northe and plot your thoughts on our interactive map.