Operational Changes to West Studios

Over the summer period we've made some operational changes to West Studios, our community spaces and the way the centre is staffed.

From Tuesday 1st October the shop & café in West Studios will no longer operate. This space will remain a place for local community groups, businesses and artists to access for meetings, workshops, or events but this will now be on a pre-booked basis. We are delighted to continue to host local artists' exhibitions going forward; information about the opening hours of these will be posted on our website.

If you’re interested in using West Studios as a venue for meetings, events, workshops, exhibitions or anything else then please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

10 Year Celebration

It’s official - West Studios is now 10 years old!

Originally set-up as a hub to support artists and creative businesses within Chesterfield, West Studios is now one of Chesterfield’s leading creative hubs, holding monthly exhibitions, a range of workshops and is a meeting space for community groups.

To mark the 10-year milestone occasion we held a celebration event on Thursday 8th August. Getting to celebrate 10 years of creativity and growth is an incredible achievement not only for West Studios but our dedicated staff team, tenant businesses, and all of the West Studios community.

Thank-you to everyone who came along to our 10 year anniversary event and making is such a special occasion.

Click here to read the Destination Chesterfield article of West Studios celebrating our 10 year anniversary.

Click here to find out what’s on at West Studios

Click here to find out more about our tenant businesses

Click here to find out more about venue hire at West Studios

Summer Newsletter

It’s a summer of celebration at West Studios as we turn 10 in August! Make sure to check back on our socials and website throughout the summer to find out more about West Studios and how we’re celebrating turning double digits this year.

Meet the tenants at our showcase event

During our meet the tenants and showcase event you will have the opportunity to find out more information about the artists and creative businesses we have at West Studios. There will be an opportunity to chat with them, find out more about their creative practice, and find out about groups, workshops and 1-2-1 sessions they run.

There will also be a range of work for sale, ranging from lino prints and other art to pottery, all made by our tenant businesses.

Finally you can find out more about what’s happening at West Studios, from the local community groups that run from the centre to the professional services on offer.

The event will run on Saturday 13th July, 12pm - 5pm & Monday 22nd July 4.30pm - 7.30pm

Cosy crafts is back!

Cosy crafts is now running again at West Studios! The sessions have gone from weekly to monthly and take place the last Wednesday of the month, 2pm until 4pm.

The next two sessions will be on Wednesday 31st July and Wednesday 28th August.

All sessions include free refreshments and a craft activity. The group is run from the reception of West Studios.

All ages and abilities are welcome to join the cosy crafts group.

Due to high interest and limited space we ask that you get in touch with Jane at Junction Arts, who is organising these sessions, to book your place. You can get in touch via email jane@junctionarts.org or call 01246 209 219.

Painting with nature workshops

In this series of workshops we will look at earth, plant and other natural pigments suitable to make paint and or ink, and how to process them today using historical and modern recipes.

Weekly workshop for 3 weeks on a Thursday, 11am - 1pm, Starting on Thursday 1st August and finishing Thursday 15th August.

£80 per person.
Click here for more information.

Sell your work at West Studios

Are you an artist, maker of things or small business looking for a new venue to sell your work?

West Studios are currently looking to expand the products available within our shop.

Send an email to hello@weststudios.co.uk with some examples of your products and a member of the team will get back in touch with you.

Weekly community groups held at West Studios.

Stepping Stones is a friendly self-help group for adult women who have had or have moderate to medium mental health issues, or are feeling isolated and who enjoy arts and crafts, while supporting others and making new friends.

The group meets each Friday afternoon in the studio room at West Studios, 12pm - 3pm.

For more details, or to arrange joining the group, please get in touch with the group directly.

This can be done by phone 07484001842 or email groupsdrpss@rethink.org.

North Derbyshire Mental Health Carers Art Group is an informal group of carers who offer respite and care for those caring for family or friends who have a mental health concern.

No Stress, No Tests.

The group meets each Friday from 2pm until 4.30pm in the meeting room at West Studios.

No experience needed and all equipment is provided.

For more details, or to arrange joining the group, please contact Malcom on 01246 220686 or email artforcarer@gmail.com

Venue Hire at West Studios

Interested in using the venue but not sure how you can?

West Studios is open to the public from 10am - 4pm, Monday to Friday. On occasion parts of the centre is closed due to other events taking place so we always recommend calling ahead of your visit. You can view our latest exhibition, browse our shop which supports local artists and makers, or get a drink and snack.

Are you part of a community group looking for a new space to meet regularly? Get in touch to enquire about our availability and discuss our community group rates.

As a business West Studios is an ideal location to meet with clients, have team building activities, away days or team meetings. You can find out more about our team planning days by clicking here. You can find out more information about our room hire facilities by clicking the relevant area below, or email hello@weststudios.co.uk

• West Studios Rooms

• Theatre Studio

• Infirmary Records

• Room Hire Brochure

To celebrate our 10th year, if you book in hire at West Studios before 31st July for hire from July - September and use code “West Studios Turns 10” during the booking enquiry process you will receive 10% off the hire costs.

West Studios gives award to Chesterfield College Students as part of the Arts Festival

We had a great time visiting the Chesterfield College Arts Festival. The students did an amazing job putting together a great exhibition and creating some amazing and thought provoking pieces of art.

As part of our viewing experience, West Studios had the difficult task of choosing three students to receive an award for special recognition in creative skills.

You can find out more information about the arts festival and winners of the award here.

Updates from our tenants

Junction Arts - Chesterfield Children’s Festival

The two-day event, which is funded by Arts Council England, celebrates the joy of childhood, imagination, and play. At this years event there will be:

• Immersive Movie Set , Art, Family Catwalk, Face painting, Music, Dance, Storytelling, Theatre, Circus Skills, Virtual Reality Swings, baby aerial workshop.

This year the Chesterfield Children’s festival takes place at Queen’s Park on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th July, 10am until 4pm.

More information can be found on the Junction Arts Website.

Pomegranate Youth Theatre

We provide fun workshops for ages 4 - 18 years, which are led by professional facilitators exploring all aspects of stagecraft. Our members acquire valuable life and social skills, gaining confidence through their creativity. The weekly drama workshops are available at a low cost

We also have a session for adult members called Gekkota Arts.

You can find out more information on our website, or call us on 07932603525 or email pomytheatre@gmail.com.

West Studios gives special recognition in creative skills award to Chesterfield College Students as part of the Arts Festival

Chesterfield College’s annual Arts Festival event took place last week, with the celebration event taking place on Thursday 20th June. This year the students were much more involved in organising the event and putting together the marketing materials and name of the show ‘Out Of The Can’.

The students have done amazing putting together a great exhibition and creating some amazing and thought provoking art. There was such a high level of work produced this year and the way the show was put together gave each artist a chance to shine.

West Studios had the difficult task of choosing three students to receive an award for special recognition in creative skills during the celebration event. It was extremely difficult to chose only three students as there were so many standouts throughout the show. However, in the end the winners of the award were Scarlett Cook, Erin Wood, and Evie Cocks.

Artwork by Scarlett Cook

Artwork by Erin Wood

Artwork by Evie Cocks

June Newsletter

Join West Studios for a summer of fun! We have a range of activities you can come and experience, get involved in and use our venue.

Come and experience…

An improvised comedy show…

Gekkota Arts Presents: Here comes the fun!
Gekkota Arts provide some 'Hot Summer Fun' with an evening of fast paced improvised comedy! Creating scenes with the help of the audience.
Tuesday 11th June, 7.30pm.
General Admission £7
Concessions £5
Click here for more information & to book a ticket.

A night of theatre…

Without Malice Or Ill Will
Geoff Marsh, a retired police officer, has been invited to the Winton Community Centre to deliver a talk. It could be the usual chat about his career, pepped with the useful hints and tips on crime prevention and road safety.

But this is more than that. It’s the story of how he became a miner, then a copper. He tells us of the one decision changed his career and of the momentous year that changed him, his community and his life, forever.
Saturday 1st June, 7.30pm.
General Admission £10
Concessions £8
Click here for more information & to book a ticket.

A Creative Workshop…

Townscapes in Pen & Wash
For those who may shy away from traditional drawing methods, this workshop is geared to help you enjoy making the most of this exciting medium.  Inventing a collection of marks we will look at townscapes and busy streets as the theme, and really get to know our pen - scribbling, hatching, dotting and dashing, before layering these textures into our work.  If you are not confident with your drawing, templates will be available to ease you in the right direction, and we will enjoy picking out all the quirks and eccentricities of your chosen town, from quirky vintage corners to magnificent brick Georgian facades.
Saturday 27th July
£35 per person
Click here for more information & to book your place.

Painting with Nature - Making Paints and Inks

In this series of workshops we will look at earth, plant and other natural pigments suitable to make paint and or ink, and how to process them today using historical and modern recipes.
A three week workshop series, starting Thursday 1st August. £80 per person

Click here for more information & to book your place.

Learning to draw & paint

A workshop series teaching participants the basics of drawing and painting from a professional artist and tutor.
A Three week workshop series starting on Thursday 13th June. £60 per person.

Click here for more information & to book your place.

An Exhibition…

A Vision - an exhibition by Mindscapes
Mindscapes are a local mental health peer support group. They use their lived experience to help support  individuals, helping with building self-esteem, social confidence, confidence and resilience. They also also help towards beating isolation and tackling loneliness.

The exhibition  of A Vision is about building  confidence in our members, to show that despite our struggles you can achieve great things. Some of the images are mental health reflection while others are there own individual vision of what  images they have taken to show what can be achieved with the belief and support  from others.

Click here for more information about this exhibition.

Get Involved…

West Studios annual Open Exhibition
Our annual Open Exhibition will take place from 9th - 27th September 2024.
The application deadline is Friday 28th June. Successful artists will be required to pay a £20 submission fee.

Click here for more information and to download an application form.

Chesterfield Creatives

Chesterfield Creatives is a network of creative people based in Chesterfield. We aim to create a place to share, learn & collaborate.

Join the network. Share, Learn, Collaborate.

Our next meeting is on Wednesday 12th June, 10am - 12pm.

Click here to book your place.

Use the venue…

Interested in using the venue but not sure how you can?

West Studios is open to the public from 10am - 4pm, Monday to Friday. On occasion parts of the centre is closed due to other events taking place so we always recommend calling ahead of your visit. You can view our latest exhibition, browse our shop which supports local artists and makers, or get a drink and snack.

Are you part of a community group looking for a new space to meet regularly? Get in touch to enquire about our availability and discuss our community group rates.

As a business West Studios is an ideal location to meet with clients, have team building activities, away days or team meetings. You can find out more about our team planning days by clicking here. You can find out more information about our room hire facilities by clicking the relevant area below, or email hello@weststudios.co.uk

• West Studios Rooms

• Theatre Studio

• Infirmary Records

• Room Hire Brochure