OUR SONIC HERITAGE

Pitmatic developed in the coal mining communities of the Great Northern Coalfield and remains an important part of working-class heritage in County Durham’s towns and villages. This project examines Pitmatic as both a linguistic system and a form of cultural expression, rooted in everyday speech, local history, and community identity.

Combining printmaking, visual art, and sociolinguistic research, Voices From the Pit explores how dialect can be seen as well as heard. The project focuses on the rhythms, sounds, and meanings of Pitmatic, translating spoken language into visual forms that reflect the character, humour and experience of the region.

Key themes include County Durham heritage, Pitmatic dialect, working-class identity, coal mining culture, and the relationship between language and place. The project also addresses the importance of preserving regional dialects and recognising the diversity of voices within the North East.

Voices From the Pit positions Pitmatic as distinct from Geordie, reinforcing a strong sense of local identity and pride: a recognition that County Durham has its own voice, history, and cultural presence.

Voices From the Pit is led by an international research partnership between County Durham and Stockholm, bringing together artist-researcher Sarah Calavera (UK) and education and language researcher Dr. Adrian Rexgren (Sweden).

Their collaboration connects visual art, linguistics, and cultural heritage across borders, highlighting Pitmatic in a wider conversation about language, identity, and place.

The project’s Research & Development phase has been supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, enabling dedicated time and space to explore new methods, build community connections, and shape the next stages of the work.

SARAH CALAVERA

DR. ADRIAN REXGREN

Sarah Calavera is a printmaker, graphic artist and creative explorer born in Willington, now based in Crook, County Durham. Her work combines experimental print processes with digital methods, often exploring the uses of text and image to create visual narratives.

Her practice is rooted in storytelling, nostalgia and place, with a strong focus on how words, symbols, and images carry meaning.

Alongside her studio work, she develops and delivers community workshops, creating accessible ways for people to engage with art and their own creative voice. For her it's all about the 'Process over Perfection' and encourages creative play to continue to rewrite the rules when it comes to making art.

In Voices From the Pit, Sarah leads the visual side of the project, translating the sound and character of Pitmatic into print and image.

Dr. Adrian Rexgren is a language and education specialist working in the International and Comparative Education Research (ICER) group at Stockholm University.

His research focuses on language teaching, translation pedagogy, and how classroom practices shape learning in multicultural settings. He has experience teaching Swedish as a second language, translation techniques and cross-cultural communication.

Adrian has participated in International conferences on informal/lifelong learning, musicology and multilingualism.

In Voices From the Pit, Adrian leads the linguistic strand of the project, bringing expertise in language, pedagogy, and translation to the investigation of Pitmatic as both a dialect and a lived cultural practice.

WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR VOICE

Do you have a favourite word/phrase from County Durham you love saying? Maybe you have a story to share about funny things your Nanna, Grandad, Mam or Dad used to say but you never hear anymore?

If you'd like to contribute to this research phase or would like to get in touch to support the project or know more, use the contact form below and get in touch!