Contemporary art & culture meet tradition, heritage & place in a new programme of exhibitions & events

England’s most northerly whisky distiller, Ad Gefrin: Anglo Saxon Museum and Whisky Distillery is delighted to announce a new partnership with The Biscuit Factory. Ad Gefrin celebrates and showcases the unique heritage, ancient hospitality contemporary craft and produce of the region, and this new partnership with The Biscuit Factory – the first time the gallery has left its Newcastle home - is firmly rooted in craft, culture and community.

From October 2026, the RIBA award-winning Ad Gefrin will host a series of exhibitions, conversations and gatherings - curated by The Biscuit Factory - that bring contemporary art and culture into dialogue with tradition, heritage and a strong connection to place.
The first exhibition, Modern Classics will launch at Ad Gefrin on Friday 23 October. This exhibition explores light and atmosphere; the everyday and the elemental, featuring contemporary works rooted in traditional techniques by artists Paula Dunn, Angelo Murphy and Garry Courtnell.

Exhibiting artist Paula Dunn will host a special In Conversation With event on Friday 23 October, while Ad Gefrin will also host a Supper Club on the evening prior - Thursday 22 October – including a sneak peek preview of Modern Classics (details to follow). Throughout the partnership, Ad Gefrin will offer Corenkyn Members exclusive access to previews and one-off events with The Biscuit Factory: details to be announced.

This new partnership builds on Ad Gefrin’s ongoing commitment to supporting creatives and designers from across the region, dating back to its 2021 Design Challenge. Most recently, Ad Gefrin commissioned three North East artists – Voirrey Taylor, Luke
McTaggart and Sarah Calavera – to create the artwork for the three bottle designs of this year’s first Crǣft Series release: Ad Gefrin’s first release of single cask Northumbrian English single malt. The story continues with Ad Gefrin announcing an open call for artists in their search to commission more local creatives to design the artwork for future Crǣft Series launches.

Co-founder of Ad Gefrin Anglo-Saxon Museum and Whisky Distillery, Eileen Ferguson comments: “Whisky making is as much an art as it is a science, matured through craft and time. We recognise the many parallels with contemporary art practice. Joining with such a prestigious partner as The Biscuit Factory could not have come at a more exciting time, as we begin to release our Single Malt. On a personal level, I can say that The Biscuit Factory gallery has, for the last twenty-five years, been a firm favourite of the family. We are now truly honoured to be able to host partner exhibitions in our space in north Northumberland, and we hope to extend our joint hospitality to artists and art lovers alike in both Newcastle and Wooler for many years to come.”

Rachel Brown, General Manager of The Biscuit Factory adds: “Although our disciplines are distinct, we have a mutual respect for material, process and artistry. An understanding that the most enduring work cannot be hurried. Whether in a studio or a distillery, each decision leaves its trace, shaped by experience, patience and the character of its surroundings. Taking the gallery out of the city allows us to provide rural access to contemporary art. The Biscuit Factory has worked for nearly 25 years in the pursuit of accessibility, providing a platform for thousands of artists and programming that encourages a broad range of visitors to our Ouseburn gallery. Having a base in Northumberland means we can provide more opportunities for our artists and a programme of cultural events to a wider regional audience.”

Visit the Ad Gefrin website

Ad Gefrin Anglo-Saxon Museum and Whisky Distillery, Wooler, Northumberland

Sept. 26