Tees Valley's arts and cultural offering continues to prosper. From world-class venues to a packed events programme, it now ranks alongside the best there is.

Making the region a must-see destination is also fuelling the tourism trade which is now a multi-billion pound business making a major contribution to the local economy.

According to Tourism North East, the sector supported 55,000 jobs last year and contributed £3.5bn to the regional economy.

MIMA—the multi-million pound Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art—has put the town and the region firmly on the global arts map.

More than 100,000 people have already passed through its doors since opening in January 2007.

The gallery has made art accessible to all, bringing the best international work to Middlesbrough's doorstep.

Mima's development has also created Centre Square—one of the largest new public spaces in Europe.

This has acted as the venue for many events including the hugely successful Proms in the Park.

In a tremendous coup for the town thousands enjoyed an unforgettable experience and Teesside proved its ability to stage a world-class event.

Global Powerhouse

Tees Valley also has an impressive pedigree when it comes to major events and festivals.

Stockton International Riverside Festival is the UK's leading street arts festival.

The event, which this year celebrated its 21st birthday, brings the best in street arts from around the world to town and is now a powerhouse of the global festival calendar.

Jan Doherty, Stockton Council's arts development manager who organised this year's event, said: "The festival has a very good reputation across Europe and the rest of the world.

We're up there as one of the most respected, large scale events in the country."

The tourism sector locally has been boosted in the last three years by regional development agency One NorthEast's Passionate People, Passionate Places campaign to raise awareness of the Tees Valley as a destination for UK holidaymakers.

And there's a wealth of places to visit and things to see and do in the region.

Tees Valley is home to great museums including Middlesbrough's Dorman Museum and Captain Cook Birthplace Museum.

A £1.7m refurbishment has seen Darlington's railway museum renamed Head Of Steam and Hartlepool is home to the Maritime Experience and a popular art gallery.

Stockton's Preston Hall Museum is a tourist attraction in its own right, but is also home to many key events such as the Stockton Summer Show.

Redcar and Cleveland's collection of museums includes Kirkleatham Museum, Guisborough Museum, Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum, Saltburn Smugglers Heritage Centre, Winkies Castle and Zetland Lifeboat Museum.

The Region's Theatre Scene Continues to Flourish

Darlington's Civic Theatre has had stars stepping out into the spotlight for more than 100 years.

Middlesbrough Theatre has recently celebrated its 50th anniversary and Billingham's Form Theatre is as popular as ever - 40 years after opening its doors for the first time.

Other key venues include Stockton's Arc and Middlesbrough Town Hall. But Tees Valley is also fortunate to be a region with both coast and country on the doorstep.

Seaside resorts such as Saltburn, Seaton and Hartlepool contrast with quaint market towns including Stokesley and Guisborough plus there's easy access to the North York Moors and beyond.

Major Event

In recent years millions of pounds have been invested in to Tees Valley's parks.

Middlesbrough's Albert Park recently celebrated its 140th birthday and continues to be a major asset and leisure attraction for the town.

The 72-acre park was first opened on August 11, 1868, by Queen Victoria's son Prince Arthur, after it was donated to the town by Henry Bolckow.

And there is a major event on the tourism sector's horizon.

The Tall Ships' arrival on Teesside in 2010 is a fantastic opportunity to be grasped by business across the region.

The event will see a million visitors flood into the town over four days.

Up to 100 Tall Ships are expected to arrive on Saturday, August 7 after sailing from Kristiansand in Norway on the second and final race.

They will stay in the town until Tuesday, August 10 when the Parade of Sail takes place.

For more details on Tees Valley events log on to www.visitteesvalley.co.uk