Special Events
See what’s on when you’d like to visit or scroll through events below for inspiration!
Creative Writing ‘LIGHT’ with Annie Wilson - £30
As our days grow longer, from January to the lighter mid-year, you will create three or four pieces of writing at each monthly workshop. A wide variety of stimuli in a structured but informal atmosphere will be used to inspire your words, on the theme of LIGHT.
Whether you write regularly or you haven’t since leaving school, you are very welcome. All experience will be valued. Sessions may be fun and serious.
A great deal of research shows the benefit to our wellbeing of mindful, creative activity, such as writing in a group. You will certainly grow in confidence.
This February workshop is part of a series of running now through to June. While you will experience beneficial progress from attending all of them, each one stands alone if you prefer to book them individually.
Dates: January 22nd, February 26th, April 2nd, April 23rd, May 28th, June 25th
Annie’s original degree was in Drama Education. She has delivered a wide variety of Community creative Education through the WEA (Workers’ Educational Association) around Cumbria and beyond, with a special interest in mental health. Her most recent freelance work is facilitating Creative Writing in Community and Recovery settings. Her aim is to develop writing practice in individuals, through the enjoyable experience of Writing as a creative activity in a group.Annie lives in Cleator Moor.
Suitable for those aged 19+ years. Our centre is wheelchair accessible with parking on site, ramped access to the studio door and level throughout. We have an Access toilet.
Arcadia (revisited) Artist Talk - FREE
Join us for a short talk from the artists of our latest exhibition. Feel free to grab cuppa and have a chat with our three experienced artists afterwards. You can also contribute to the Arcadia (revisited) exhibition.
No need to book, just drop in!
Arcadia (revisited) Artist Family Event - FREE
A family event to meet the artists and create your own response to the exhibition by taking a short walk on site to sketch and creating a piece to add to the colourful gallery flags.
No need to book, just drop in!
Old Baby Mackerel Bluegrass Performance - Arts out West production £12 per ticket*
Old Baby Mackerel play high-energy, foot-stomping Bluegrass featuring a fantastic line-up of renowned musicians from some of the UK’s best folk, Americana and festival bands. Their music uses the sounds of fiddle, banjo, mandolin, guitar and double bass to get knees bouncing and elbows swinging to the virtuosic sound of blistering solos and sweet harmonies. Be prepared to be transported back in time to the early 20th century and across the Atlantic to North America where songs dramatized the small town fascination with locomotion, the trials of murderous drunks and the veneration of whisky and bootleg liquor.
Doors open at 19:00.
Tickets can be bought via this link or onsite at Florence Arts Centre. https://thekirkgate.ticketsolve.com/.../events/129582279
Single Adult: £12
Family (Up to 4 with 2 adults maximum): £25
U18/Student: £6
Robot Building with Nick and Sarah - Youth Workshop (ages 12-16) FREE
Join us for our robot building youth workshop! In this session we will create incredible robots with recycled materials like spoons, tin cans, old tech, and more! With the support of experienced robot makers, Nick and Sarah, you'll be able to build the robot of your dreams to take home with you.
Important Information:
· For Ages 12-16. (1 ticket per child; if child is required to be accompanied by an adult, the accompanying adult does not need to book a ticket.)
· If you cannot attend the sessions, please cancel your ticket so the spaces can be made available for others, thank you.
. Refreshments included.
· You will need reasonable hand mobility. Please contact us if you have any additional access needs. Our centre is wheelchair accessible with parking on site, ramped access to the studio door and level throughout. We also have an Accessible toilet.
Florence Discovery Day - £3 per child
Come along to our half term Discovery Day at Florence!
Drop in 10am-12 or 1-3pm. £3 per child. Tickets can be bought on the day.
Enjoy nature trails, stories, cardboard car making, play with clay, Minecraft minerals and more!
We do not want the fee to be a barrier to taking part. Please get in touch if you'd like to discuss before attending.
www.florenceartscentre.com @florence arts 01946 82394
Our centre is wheelchair accessible with parking on site, ramped access to the studio door and level throughout. We have an Access toilet.
Life at Flo - Drawing the Human Figure - £12
Come along to meet members of Flo's friendly local artist network and practice drawing from our life model. We'll welcome you with hot drinks and biscuits to help the inspiration flow!
The session will not be tutored so you will need to work independently and bring your own materials (including boards/easels if required). Come along from 6:15 to get settled in.
We do not want the fee to be a barrier to taking part. Please get in touch if you'd like to discuss before booking.
Make Space - FREE
Our regular wellbeing art sessions. Drop in, no need to book! Free hot drinks.
Thursdays 1pm - 3pm
Jan 16th - Feb 13th
Mar 6th - Apr 3rd
Feel like a walk? Walk with us to Florence from Egremont Co-op at 12.40pm to join the session.
Hot Wax with Heather Turner - Youth Workshop (ages 12-16) FREE
Join us for our hot wax youth workshop! In this session we will create incredible effects with coloured wax, a hot plate, old plastic bags and pre-used papers. The method is mesmerising, unpredictable and exciting. Use your creations to make personalised cards, stained glass window effects or abstract paintings.
Feel free to bring along any old sheets of paper, old plastic bags or bubble wrap.
Interactive Stories For Families with Children Ages 3-8 - £5 per family
It’s National Storytelling Week! Celebrate with Jessie McMeekin at Flo! Take some time to get away from phones and iPads and come together as families for some quality quiet time listening to traditional folk tales. Bring a blanket and snuggle up together for some cosy interactive stories!
Interactive stories will engage younger children with actions, sound effects and repetition, and then families will be provided with a storyboard sheet to help them make up their own story.
This session takes place between 11:30-12:15. Best suited for families for children ages 3 to 8.
Please contact us if you have any additional access needs. Our centre is wheelchair accessible with parking on site, ramped access to the studio door and level throughout. We have an Access toilet.
Craft Cafe - FREE
No booking required, just show up with something to do! This is a free event for people who want to have a cuppa and a chat while doing something creative. Our regular craft cafe visitors will be able to share their skills if you’d like to learn something new such as knitting or crochet. 11am-1pm
We are also working on a project with Fabricate textile artists and painter Janet Moss to embroider motifs inspired by nature and the Cumbrian Arts & Crafts designer Annie Garnet - pick up a kit and join in!
Annie Garnett, Cumbrian Arts & Crafts Embroiderer - FREE
A Talk by Naomi Gariff and Niall Hodson from Lakeland Arts: Annie Garnett, Cumbrian Arts & Crafts Embroiderer
Accompanied by an introduction to a new embroidery project for West Cumbria and Florence's monthly Craft Cafe
11-1pm Saturday 25 January
Free but Donations Welcome
Please book here or call Florence on 01946 823946
Naomi and Niall will introduce the work of Annie Garnett who set up and ran The Spinnery in Bowness-on-Windermere in the 1880s, influenced by the work of artist, philosopher and social reformer John Ruskin. They will bring examples to view from Blackwell's textile collection.Surprisingly, the 19th century Arts & Crafts embroidery style influenced the designs worked on the outfits worn by Cumberland & Westmoreland wrestlers - and still does today!
We are hoping to make a new wrestling outfit to accompany an exhibition by artist Janet Moss on this ancient form of wrestling and we're looking for volunteers to help Fabricate textile artists to create it. Find out more and pick up some resources if you'd like to participate. We'll be meeting at monthly Craft Cafes to complete the project.
Please contact us if you have any additional access needs. Our centre is wheelchair accessible with parking on site, ramped access to the studio door and level throughout. We also have an Accessible toilet.
Creative Writing ‘LIGHT’ with Annie Wilson - £30
As our days grow longer, from January to the lighter mid-year, you will create three or four pieces of writing at each monthly workshop. A wide variety of stimuli in a structured but informal atmosphere will be used to inspire your words, on the theme of LIGHT.
Whether you write regularly or you haven’t since leaving school, you are very welcome. All experience will be valued. Sessions may be fun and serious.
A great deal of research shows the benefit to our wellbeing of mindful, creative activity, such as writing in a group. You will certainly grow in confidence.
This January workshop is the first in a series of six starting from January through to June. While you will experience beneficial progress from attending all of them, each one stands alone if you prefer to book them individually.
For a £20 discount, book all six in advance here at Florence.
Dates: January 22nd, February 26th, April 2nd, April 23rd, May 28th, June 25th
Annie’s original degree was in Drama Education. She has delivered a wide variety of Community creative Education through the WEA (Workers’ Educational Association) around Cumbria and beyond, with a special interest in mental health. Her most recent freelance work is facilitating Creative Writing in Community and Recovery settings. Her aim is to develop writing practice in individuals, through the enjoyable experience of Writing as a creative activity in a group.Annie lives in Cleator Moor.
Suitable for those aged 19+ years. Our centre is wheelchair accessible with parking on site, ramped access to the studio door and level throughout. We have an Access toilet.
Florence Paintmakers: Demonstration of Paintmaking Practice -£6
Come and join us for a demonstration of our paintmaking practice. We use traditional methods to create high quality artist materials.
We will talk you through the method of processing rocks into earth pigments and the different techniques we use to create our watercolour paints and chalk pastels. There will be time for questions at the end. Please feel free to explore the site before/afterwards - we have a shop, galleries, a cosy cafe and wildlife garden.
Interactive Stories For Families with Children Ages 3-8 - £5 per family
Take some time to get away from phones and iPads and come together as families for some quality quiet time listening to traditional folk tales. Bring a blanket and snuggle up together for some cosy interactive stories!
Interactive stories will engage younger children with actions, sound effects and repetition, and then families will be provided with a storyboard sheet to help them make up their own story.
This session takes place between 11:30-12:15. Best suited for families for children ages 3 to 8.
Please contact us if you have any additional access needs. Our centre is wheelchair accessible with parking on site, ramped access to the studio door and level throughout. We have an Access toilet.
Winter Stories For Families with Children Ages 3-8 - £5 per family
Take some time to get away from phones and iPads and come together as families for some quality quiet time listening to traditional folk tales on a winter theme. Bring a blanket and snuggle up together for some cosy interactive winter stories!
Interactive stories will engage younger children with actions, sound effects and repetition, and then families will be provided with a storyboard sheet to help them make up their own story.
This session takes place between 11:30-12:15. Best suited for families for children ages 3 to 8.
Please contact us if you have any additional access needs. Our centre is wheelchair accessible with parking on site, ramped access to the studio door and level throughout. We have an Access toilet.
Life at Flo - Drawing the Human Figure - £12
Come along to meet members of Flo's friendly local artist network and practice drawing from our life model. We'll welcome you with hot drinks and biscuits to help the inspiration flow!
The session will not be tutored so you will need to work independently and bring your own materials (including boards/easels if required). Come along from 6:15 to get settled in.
We do not want the fee to be a barrier to taking part. Please get in touch if you'd like to discuss before booking.
Florence Paintmakers - Demonstration of Paintmaking Practice
Come and join us for a demonstration of our paintmaking practice. We use traditional methods to create high quality artist materials.
We will talk you through the method of processing rocks into earth pigments and the different techniques we use to create our watercolour paints and chalk pastels. There will be time for questions at the end. Please feel free to explore the site before/afterwards - we have a shop, galleries, a cosy cafe and wildlife garden.
Life at Flo - Drawing the Human Figure - £12
Come along to meet members of Flo's friendly local artist network and practice drawing from our life model. We'll welcome you with hot drinks and biscuits to help the inspiration flow!
The session will not be tutored so you will need to work independently and bring your own materials (including boards/easels if required). Come along from 6:15 to get settled in.
We do not want the fee to be a barrier to taking part. Please get in touch if you'd like to discuss before booking.
Florence Festive Fayre - FREE ENTRY
Join us for a Fantastic Festive Fayre! Cumbrian artists and local entrepreneurs will take over Florence to sell their locally produced goods and wares. Enjoy mulled wine and mince pies whilst you find unique gifts for yourself or another!
Free Entry!
Saturday 9th November 11am - 3pm
Sunday 10th November 11am - 3pm
