Pay As You Feel event - donations welcome to keep our venue free entry.

Meet the makers behind two films relating to Florence Mine and the iron industry and view both films in full.

Julia Parks and Alex Culshaw are artist film-makers who have explored themes relating to Florence in their work. They will talk about their films – made in 2017 and 2019 – before showing them in Flo’s performance space.

“Workington Red” by Cumbrian artist, Julia Parks, looks at the different ways the iron, coal, steel and nuclear industries have shaped the landscape around west cumbria. The film includes interviews with local people, poetry and a specially recorded song from Flimby Male Voice Choir.

“A Portrait of Florence” by Alex Culshaw was made in response to spending a year documenting and researching at Florence Mine and Arts Centre . The film juxtaposes two voices. The voice of Gilbert Finlinson, the ex mine manager and, the voice of Jenni Payne, an artist who was one of the founders of the paint makers co-op that runs out of the arts centre. The remaining haematite on the surface is used to make artists’ materials such as oil paints, pastels and inks.

Make unique beautiful pieces of jewellery using vintage china and coloured glass with Cumbrian artist Helen Clues.

This workshop includes all materials, use of equipment and tuition to make yourself some unique beautiful pieces of jewellery using vintage china and coloured glass - or give them as a special gift! You will learn how to cut and shape the materials, design and construct your items using mosaic techniques.

Fee includes coffee on arrival. Workshops are based in our Garden Studio and include time to relax and explore the arts centre and wildlife garden, learn about the Florence Mine site and enjoy our Fair-trade coffee and teas.

Helen is an experienced and well known artist living and working in West Cumbria. She trained in Art & Design in Carlisle in the 1990’s where her passion for materials and processes began. Inspiration for her work comes from the materials themselves, her mosaics are decorative and functional, using found and traditional materials. She runs workshops and supplies galleries as well as selling on line https://helenclues-artist.co.uk/

This session is suitable for beginners aged 18+ with reasonable mobility and strength in their hands. Our centre is wheelchair accessible with parking on site, ramped access to the studio door and level throughout. We have an Access toilet.

We're delighted to be hosting top folk musicians Tom and Marit on tour to launch Tom's new album and book "Where There's Brass"

Author and musician Tom Kitching launches his new book and album, 'Where There's Brass', with a special storytelling and music concert tour. http://www.tomkitching.co.uk/wheres-there-brass/

Documenting six months living in the London waterways community, making the long journey across England from Manchester on a traditional narrowboat built in 1937, 'Where There's Brass' tells the story of the contemporary London waterways; a floating slum at worst, a bohemian, alternative, vibrant community at best.

It is a love letter to the waterways, and a rallying cry for what they can be in the future.

Stories old and new interwoven with a specially composed suite of music, underpinned by Tom's long term accompanist, the brilliant Nordic mandola player Marit Fält.This tour builds on the success of his previous work, most recently 'Seasons of Change', the stories and music from 18 months busking around England.

"I'm devouring the book, not just reading it. The lad is one of the best fiddlers I've ever heard - he breathes life into the tunes. I didn't know he was also a very fine writer indeed. I've been a sucker for these books about these islands. Busking for his keep, with his feet on the pavement of the high streets and his hand sending music into the air, Tom is a wise and witty guide to England pre-Covid19." - Mike Harding, on Seasons of Change.

Tom’s debut solo album ‘Interloper’ was listed at #6 in the Sunday Express albums of the year 2015. "There are dozens of folk violinists, but few with the attack, passion, and ingenuity of Tom Kitching. The most beautiful instrumental playing of the year."

Work with textile designer and artist, Julia Neubauer, to create your own very unique floral silk scarf taking inspiration and prints from our wildlife garden. Explore the processes involved in printing with plants to produce images on fabrics and use natural dyes to add colour. We will work on a 28cm x 114cm silk scarf. Feel free to bring leaves and flowers from home to make your scarf unique.

All materials included in the fee plus lunch and coffee on arrival . Workshops are based in our Garden Studio and include time to relax and explore the arts centre and wildlife garden, learn about the Florence Mine site and enjoy our Fair-trade coffee and teas.

Julia Neubauer is a textile artist and knitwear designer based at the Brewhouse Studios, by the river in Alston, Cumbria. She is also a member of the Woolclip at Caldbeck and produces a limited edition range of naturally dyed knitwear and yarn. Her knitwear is hand framed in British wool from a Yorkshire woollen mill. Julia finds inspiration from many sources, including the natural world and research into the history of decorative arts, folk art being a particular favourite.

See more of Julia's work at www.woolclip.co.uk

Suitable for those aged 18+ . Our centre is wheelchair accessible with parking on site, ramped access to the studio door and level throughout. We have an Access toilet.

In this workshop you will create a visual journey of an encounter in nature – forget traditional notions of nature journaling, with Nanette you will explore different ways of recording nature experiences through drawing, writing, collage and more.

You'll explore the garden and surrounding hedgerows to observe nature in situ and forage for material to inspire your nature journalling; a nature trail will be included. Back in the studio you will create a concertina book and fill it with observations, poems and pictures from our exploration outside. Collage papers will be made using a Gelli Plate to construct images from nature and printing from the plant material collected will also be carried out. Weather permitting, there will be an opportunity to experiment with cyanotype. You will come away with your own personal interpretation of your journey in nature.

Fee includes all materials and coffee on arrival. Workshops are based in our Garden Studio. Take time after the workshop to relax and explore the arts centre and wildlife garden, learn about the Florence Mine site and enjoy our Fair-trade coffee and teas.

Ticket sales end 7 days in advance so don't miss out!

Nanette is a West Cumbrian based artist specialising in printmaking, oil pastels and fibre art. Nature is the biggest inspiration behind her art as a result of working as a polar field scientist for many years. Nanette recently appeared in Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year where her work was referred to as "super imaginative!" www.nanettemadan.com

Suitable for adults or those aged 14+ if accompanied by a paying adult. You'll need reasonable mobility in your hands. Our centre is wheelchair accessible with parking on site, ramped access to the studio door and level throughout. We have an Access toilet.

Get creative with plants from our on-site garden and explore the fascinating gel plate printing process using a range of printing mediums. We'll print onto paper and fabric backgrounds experimenting with layering colour and pattern. Once dried prints can be worked into with mixed media and stitched embellishments.

All materials included in the fee plus coffee on arrival. Workshops are based in our Garden Studio and include time to relax and explore the arts centre and wildlife garden, learn about the Florence Mine site and enjoy our Fair-trade coffee and teas.

T icket sales close 7 days before the event - please don't miss out!

Wendy Ann Stanger is a textile artist specializing in creating unique surfaces using natural fibres with real dried flower inclusions. Inspired by the rugged landscapes of Northern England and the intricate details of plant forms, she aims to capture nature's beauty by observing the life cycles of plants and the changing of the seasons.

www.wendyannstangertextiles.uk

Suitable for those aged 16+ with reasonable mobility in their hands. Our centre is wheelchair accessible with parking on site, ramped access to the studio door and level throughout. We have an Access toilet.

Take a day! Make your own spoon with experienced Cumbrian woodsman, David Alty.

After knife and axe practice and safety tips, learn how to select the timber for your spoon, then use a hand axe to create a blank. Craft the shape with a bushcraft knife and finally a curved crook knife to form the bowl.

A woodsman at heart, David is never happier than out in the woods, with a whittling project on the go, an open fire blazing and supper in the pot! David lives in Cumbria and works across Britain sharing his passion for outdoor living and traditional skills.

All materials included in the fee plus coffee and traybakes on arrival. Please bring a packed lunch. Snacks are available at the cafe. Workshops are based outdoors or in our Garden Studio if wet and include time to relax and explore the arts centre and wildlife garden, learn about the Florence Mine site and enjoy our Fair-trade coffee and teas.

Ticket sales close 7 days before the event - please don't miss out!

Suitable for adults and those aged 16-18 if accompanied by a paying adult. A long day of crafting requires good strength and mobility in your hands. Our centre is wheelchair accessible with parking on site, ramped access to the studio door and level throughout. We have an Access toilet.