March Newsletter

View a Show….

The story of WASPIs - Women Against State Pension Inequality. 

 1950s-born women always thought they would retire with a state pension on their 60th birthday like generations of women before them - how wrong they were! The Government moved the goal posts - not once, but twice and these women have bore the brunt.  But you can’t keep a group of strong, determined women down for long … Join members of North Derbyshire WASPI on a rollercoaster of a ride in their quest for pension justice.

Performances take place Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th March.

You can find out more information about the play and book your tickets here.

Gekkota Arts presents A Comedy Eggprovavaganza!

An evening of fast paced improvised comedy with an Easter Theme.

Creating scenes with the help of the audience.

The Studio Theatre, West Studios, Chesterfield College.

Tuesday 4th April, 7.00pm. Doors open from 6.45pm.

Click here for more information & to book your ticket.

Attend an exhibition….

DISORDER

DISORDER is an exhibition of printmaking and other art by Dave Elsom.

This exhibition will support the Chesterfield College Food Pantry as well as the Trussell Trust (food banks). You can find out more information about Dave in our blog post.

The exhibition will be open to the public from Monday 6th March - Friday 24th March, between 10am and 4pm. On occasion part of the exhibition may be closed due to other events taking place in the centre. We recommend calling us ahead of your visit to avoid disappointment.

The exhibition preview evening is on Friday 3rd March, 6pm - 9pm. Click here to book your space.

Women United

Women United is an exhibition by local artist Sue Dickins, who specialises in oil paintings.

The aim of the Women United exhibition is to showcase women from around the world, wearing traditional dress where possible.

The exhibition will be open to the public Monday - Friday between 10am and 4pm.

Monday 17th April - Friday 28th April. Open evening - Saturday 15th April, 6pm - 9pm.

Click here to find out more information about the Women United exhibition.

Chesterfield Postcard Show

Chesterfield’s annual exhibition of mini masterpieces is back for 2023, giving creatives, communities, and up-and-coming artists the opportunity to show their work in this unique and exciting exhibition!   This year’s show is entitled ‘Wish You Were Here’ and will take place between the 9th and 19th of May at West Studios.  In 2022, there were first exhibits and sales for several new artists and creative people in the community, with 70 artists involved and 131 postcard-size pieces exhibited. 

The exhibition celebrates the importance of getting creative and its impact on people’s self-esteem and well-being.  Organisers, Junction Arts, and local artist Dave Elsom are inviting people locally, from across the UK, and Internationally to create their own postcard piece of art and submit it by the 20th of April 2023. 

Hannah Bowdler, Fundraising Coordinator at Junction Arts said: “We believe that everyone should have access to art. The Chesterfield Postcard Shows not only provides a free exhibition of marvelous miniature artworks for local people to enjoy, but it also provides a unique opportunity for new artists to exhibit and showcase their talent. 

You can find out more information and download the submission forms from Junction Arts website.

Young Artist of the Year
Are you aged between 8 and 18? Do you enjoy getting creative and want an opportunity to show off your work? Then enter this year Derbyshire Young Artist of the Year award 2023 to be in with a chance of being crowned the winner for 2023.

All the rules about the competition and how to enter can be found in the link below.

This years brief is ‘Reduce, Recycle, Replace – How do you think we can make the world be more sustainable?’

Click here to find out more information about the Young Artist of the Year exhibition.

Shop with us…

There’s a range of cards and enamel pins available on our Etsy store!

Get your special person a quirky card and token gift, or pop into West Studios between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday to browse the gallery-shop to find a wider range of cards and gifts.

Click here to visit our Etsy store.


Hire a space…

We have a range of rooms and hireable space to suit the needs of any type of booking. Whether you need a space suitable for standard meetings, theatre, sports, dance, drama, yoga, choir, or something else we have a space suitable for you!

HOST YOUR COMMUNITY GROUP HERE…

MEET WITH CLIENTS OR HOST A TEAM AWAY DAY…

A SPACE FOR CONFERENCES AND SHOWS…

GET YOUR AUDIO SORTED…

Updates from the tenants…

Dave Elsom of Sombrero Printmaking

As well as running group workshops, Dave Elsom, who is a tenant at West Studios, offers 1-1 lessons on various printmaking techniques. 1-1 sessions are £40 for 2.5 hours with all equipment and materials provided. Dave can be contacted via email at davidjelsom@hotmail.com

Pomegranate Youth Theatre & Gokkota Arts

The Pomegranate Youth Theatre offers weekly drama workshops that are available to all at a low cost. Formed in 2002, the fun workshops are for young people aged 7-18 years old. The weekly sessions teach all areas of stagecraft with professional facilitators which promote teamwork, social skills, emotional intelligence, creativity and confidence.

Gekkota Arts is a group of adults (18+) that provide a fast paced, improvised comedy performance, full of laughs and banter!

For more information about either group please contact Carole on 07932603525 or email pomytheatre@gmail.com.

Life Drawing with John King

A life drawing session with Chesterfield based artist John King.

To book onto these sessions please contact John directly by phone or email.

Junction Arts

Hosted at the stunning Museum of Making in Derby, the theme for the day is “Dive into Digital – hacking heritage with digital technologies’’. We will celebrate and showcase some exceptional creative heritage projects including This Girl Codes. Speakers include Josie Fraser, Head of Digital Policy at National Lottery Heritage Fund, Stephanie Walsh, lead coordinator for the spectacular Derbyshire focussed Shine a Light project and Eilish Clohessy-Dennis, Curator of Making at the Museum of Making.

Click here to find out more & book your place.