Our Latest newsletter will tell you about upcoming workshops, how you can take part in an upcoming exhibition, an Easter themed comedy show, and about an upcoming networking event with local creatives.
CHESTERFIELD CREATIVES
Chesterfield Creatives is a space for creatives who live and work in and around Chesterfield to come together to share, learn and collaborate.
The first session will take place at West Studios and feature a presentation from Create Growth East Midlands as well as offering space for us to come together to shape the future of the network.
Gekkota Arts Presents ‘Only Yokin’
Gekkota Arts provide some ‘Hot Cross Fun’ with an evening of fast paced improvised comedy, creating scenes with the help of the audience.
Tuesday March 26th, 7.30pm (doors open at 7.00pm)
General Admission - £7
Concessionary Ticket - £5
Click here to book your place.
Workshops
We have a range of workshops coming up, from old favourites such as lino printing to new additions such as Painting with Nature.
Lino Printing - Come and join a hands-on Lino Printing workshop at West Studios and unleash your creativity with this fun and unique art form! Workshop ran by local artist Dave Elsom, of Sombrero Printmaking.
Tuesday 26th March, 7pm - 9.30pm.
All Materials Included.
£25 per person (plus Eventbrite fee)
Printing with Lego - Use your imagination to create unique prints from Lego tiles. This is a 1.5 hour workshop with all materials included.
Tuesday 9th April, 6.30pm - 8pm
Painting with Nature - We will look at natural earth pigments available all around us and how to identify and then process them to be able to make artist quality paints. Touching on pigments through history, safety precautions and responsible foraging.
£30 per person.
Thursday 11th April, 11am - 1pm.Shop Fronts in Line & Wash - This workshop is geared to help you enjoy the medium of line and wash, the perfect choice for the hesitant artist! Using a myriad of mark making skills we will use the theme of shop fronts and really get to know our pen - scribbling, hatching, dotting and dashing, before layering these textures into our work.
£35 per person.
Saturday 11th May, 12.30pm to 2.30pm.
Find out about our full range of workshops throughout spring and summer in the news section of the West Studios website.
Upcoming Exhibitions
Self Expression is a Next Gen exhibition to showcase young and talented local artists and give them a space to express themselves through their artworks.
The exciting exhibition is a final celebration of the Next Gen project, the group has chosen the theme of self-expression and has organised and curated the exhibition themselves.
Next Gen is a POV, Volunteering Futures Project with Bassetlaw Community and Voluntary Service – BCVS, funded by Arts Council England.
The exhibition is open to the public from Monday 25th - Thursday 28th March.The Chesterfield Postcard Show - This year’s show is entitled ‘Memories Are Made of This” and will take place between the 7th and 17th of May at West Studios. Artists of all abilities are invited to be part of the exciting exhibition, all you need to do is submit a postcard-size piece of art by the 24th of April 2024.
Click here to find out more.You can find out more information about upcoming exhibitions at West Studios on the exhibition page of our website.
VENUE HIRE
West Studios - Bright and flexible spaces that lend themselves to a range of activities from standard meetings to community groups and workshops.
Studio Theatre - The theatre consists of a centre stage with surround seating, backstage access, projector and professional lighting and sound.
Infirmary Records - Infirmary records is a one stop shop for all your recording needs! Boasting a 32ch Audient Inline Mix Console and a custom-built live space, there’s no better place to record your next release.
Board Room - The Boardroom at Chesterfield College offers a professional environment for all your important meetings. The meeting room is equipped with a large meeting table, chairs, computer and projector. There is also a convenient break out room with tea and coffee facilities.
Find out more about venue hire.
TEAM PLANNING DAYS
West Studios’ bright rooms and relaxed atmosphere provides the ideal setting for team planning, with a creative activity to promote well-being and strengthen bonds between team members.
The away day would be broken down into three 2hour planning sessions, one of which would include a creative activity.
Updates from the tenants
The Pomegranate Youth Theatre was formed in 2002.
The fun workshops forages 7-18 provide a service to teach all aspects of stagecraft with professional facilitators which promote Teamwork, life and social skills, creativity, and confidence.
It offers weekly drama workshops that are available to all at a low cost.
If you are interested in joining the Youth Theatre and would like more information or would like to find out about:
Gekkota Arts for ages 18+
Hatchlings storytelling performances for under 7s
Please visit our website www.pomytheatre.co.uk
or email pomytheatre@gmail.com or ring 07932603525
Junction Arts - Cosy Crafts
In February, Junction Arts, in partnership with Derbyshire County Council, launched a new community warm space at West Studios to offer a warm place for people to sit, enjoy complimentary refreshments and get involved in craft activities.
The Cosy Crafts sessions have been running every Wednesday between 2 pm and 4 pm and have seen people, of all ages come along and enjoy the space and get involved in creative activities including Indian block printing, tissue paper flower making and glass engraving.
For more information: https://junctionarts.org/a-new-creative-warm-space-for-chesterfield/
Join the Junction Arts Collective
Award-winning arts charity, Junction Arts is inviting artists from all disciplines to be part of their preferred supplier list for 2024! Every year, they work with artists on a diverse range of projects and events, from delivering a workshop for our over 65s wellbeing group to creating an installation for the Chesterfield Children’s Festival, they want to support and build a creative community in Derbyshire and beyond.
Community artists who are interested in working with the charity should apply here: https://junctionarts.org/apply-to-join-the-junction-arts-collective/
This Girl Codes – Showcase 2024
An exciting exhibition of artworks inspired by Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths at Creswell Crags Museum.
Over the last 9 months the Junction Arts project, This Girl Codes, has been inspiring and empowering women of all ages in Bolsover and North East Derbyshire with a range of workshops and taster sessions. The participants have created a range of exciting artworks, using several mediums including VR, poetry, dioramas, film and electronics.
An exhibition of their work will be on display at Creswell Crags until 25th April. The exhibition is in Creswell’s museum space and is free to attend.
S40 Local
S40 Local is one of West Studios original tenant businesses and they turn 15 this year! Below is a message from Paul.
“I started this business 15 years ago. I was working in a large corporate and was concerned about jobs in the UK - as we out-sourced and off shored key services.
I was worried that shopping would all end up online, that the big corporates would gain more and more power
I wanted to do something that supported the small UK businesses and build a community.
So where are we 15 years on?
Some of this has come true, online retailing is booming, our high streets struggling, there has been a massive amount of change. But, with your commitment to support them and because they are unique, interesting and hard working, and by building resilient support networks, I can see small independent businesses surviving, and thriving.
I'm proud to play my part in that, I'm proud to support them, and that they support me - it's a mutual relationship, one of respect and friendship - that's not something common in the corporate world.
I've seen the what's on section fill up with events, groups and activities, people coming together. People bonding over a common interest, thanks to the passion, hard work and commitment of a small group of individuals. Keep it up everyone!
I've learnt that...
Mutual respect and community businesses makes work joyful.
That even when things feel difficult, green shoots appear, someone decides to take a chance and try something new - a new business emerges.
I can be a grumpy old man about change - or I can embrace it and do my best to see the positives, and when I do that I feel better about it, and about myself... I don't manage this all the time.
Communities are amazing - the local people are amazing and together we can create the kind of place we all want it to be - but it takes everyone one us, taking small positive actions.
We don't all agree on how best to make things work or improve things - and that's life. But by being respectful and listening to opinions we can continue to live and work in together.
A few dedicated people can make positive things happen - and thank goodness for those fantastic people.
Thanks for all your input and support over the years.
Enjoy.”