Ginny’ Whittle intends to run a Watercolour Painting Class at Hummersknott Academy subject to enrolment, details as above. Booking is required, it’s aimed at beginners and improvers and costs £150 for ten weeks. Participants will need to bring their own materials and equipment. Please contact Ginny to check the course if running before purchasing any of these items:

• Watercolour paint – tubes if possible or pans
• Brushes either sable or synthetic
• A pallete – this could be a plastic plate or lid
• Watercolour pot e.g. jam jar
• MDF board to tape watercolour paper if using sheets
• Watercolour paper or pad. ” Not ” surface like Bockingford 

Ginny has run watercolour classes since the 1990’s, including leading courses at The Bridge Centre for Visual Arts in Darlington. She is Fine Art trained with a Post Graduate Teachers qualification, and has exhibited her work in the North East and in London. She advises the course offers a ‘rewarding,  creative, environment,  which will stretch your ideas of ” art ” developing specific watercolour techniques,  through a series of flower and landscape paintings, alongside looking at both historic and contemporary watercolour painters for inspiration’.

Ginny is also offering a ten week evening Watercolour Painting Class, with sessions running from 4.30pm – 6.30pm at Hutton Magna Village Hall, Dale House, Hutton Magna, Richmond, DL11 7HH, running from Tuesday 16th April to Tuesday 25th June (no class on Tuesday 15th May 2024) priced £100 for ten sessions,

Booking for these courses is required and those interested are advised to check with Ginny whether these courses will run before purchasing any equipment you may need to participate. To find out more please contact Ginny at whittleginny@yahoo.co.uk

Places limited so early booking recommended https://tinyurl.com/yrzn5xmh

Place, People & Living Memory – a public exhibition in the Art Gallery at Darlington Library exploring a new order of social justice carried forward from radical non resistance in the 19th Century by women of and from the North East of England, including Elizabeth Pease, Josephine Butler and Harriet Martineau, who were associated with Darlington, Northumberland and North Tyneside respectively. Each is known for advocacy, original thinking, activism and support for the cause of women’s political inclusion and emancipation. The work on show extends a time line into the 1930s, 1960s and 1990s when resistance and dissent to stark new forms of oppression give significance to the activist work of Frances Perkins (USA), Marta Kubišová (South Bohemia) and Jo Spence (UK).

Pease, Butler & Spence – Radical Non-Resistance & the Art of Transgression takes its lead from an artwork at the National Portrait Gallery, London, titled: ’The World Anti-Slavery Convention 1840’, made by the history painter and diarist Benjamin Robert Haydon. The inclusion of Elizabeth Pease in the delegates depicted warrants further consideration of her central role and advocacy for abolitionism. Born in 1807 into a Quaker family of wool merchants in Darlington, the entitlements and civic values of her time permeate the radical eloquence of her tireless campaigning for female emancipation and social justice. This exhibition unpicks a few threads from the storehouse of this history to trace the slow turn of change and reformation in human affairs then and since.

Place, People & Living Memory, includes: an extended photo-essay; current practice in painting; photography; AV film, sound work and participatory events with the intent to show rather than tell. The artefacts on show serve to explore the shifting status of civic pride in the township of Darlington; celebrate the legacy of locally driven radicalism for social reform; the close alliance of Pease family ancestry with activist figures operating regionally, nationally and internationally; the sense of belonging borne of working together to invigorate the commonality of social justice; and reveal the lived experience of collision between privilege, oppression and transformation

Artist practitioners presenting work in the show are: Dave Allinson (AV Film); Pip Dickens (Painting); Alec Gatenby (Print Media & AV film); Claire Grey (Photography); Bridie Jackson (Docusong); Karen Melvin (Photography); Pat Naldi (Essay text & Film); Alicia Paz (Painting, Photography & Print) ); Nicky Peacock (Sculpture); Jo Spence (Photography); Tereza Stehlikova (Film); and Ikuko Tsuchiya (Photography).

EVENTS PROGRAMME

The exhibition is accompanied by an extensive events programme, details below, all events are aimed at adults, free of charge and are held in the Art Gallery at Darlington Library, open Monday – Saturday during standard Darlington Library opening hours.

Place, People & Living Memory Exhibition Tour & Talk – Phil Gatenby, Curator

Darlington Library, Gallery, Monday 5th February 2024, 2.00pm – 3.30pm

Phil Gatenby, Curator, will outline the story behind the show, why so? and other questions this might raise.

Place, People & Living Memory Exhibition Tour & Talk – Phil Gatenby, Curator

Darlington Library, Gallery, Thursday 15^th February 2024, 2.00pm – 3.30pm

Phil Gatenby, Curator, will outline the story behind the show, why so? and other questions this might raise.

Place, People & Living Memory Exhibition Tour & Talk – Ikuko Tsuchiya, Exhibiting Artist

Darlington Library, Gallery, Tuesday 20th February 2024, 2.00pm – 3.30pm

Ikuko Tsuchiya will talk about her current photography work with the NHS & Health Care.

Place, People & Living Memory Exhibition Tour & Talk – Karen Melvin, Exhibiting Artist

Darlington Library, Gallery,Tuesday 27th February 2024, 2.00pm – 3.30pm

Karen will talk about her work as a fine art based photographer.

Place, People & Living Memory Exhibition Tour & Talk – Phil Gatenby, Curator

Darlington Library, Gallery, Tuesday 5^th March 2024, 2.00pm – 3.30pm

Phil Gatenby will talk about the photographic work made by Jo Spence, the art of transgression and the impact of her work in her lifetime and its influence since.

Place, People & Living Memory Exhibition Tour & Talk – Learning Curator, Mima, Claire Pounder

Darlington Library, Gallery, Tuesday 12^th March 2024, 2.00pm – 3.30pm

Claire Pounder, Learning Curator at Mima will talk about her approach to people powered stories, posing the question: who is Elizabeth Pease?

Place, People & Living Memory Exhibition Tour & Talk – Exhibiting Artist, Nicky Peacock

Darlington Library, Gallery, Tuesday 19^th March 2024, 2.00pm – 3.30pm

Nicky Peacock will talk about art-making, isolation and bodily autonomy

Place, People & Living Memory Exhibition Tour & Talk – Phil Gatenby, Curator

Darlington Library, Gallery, Monday 25^th March 2024, 2.00pm – 3.30pm

Phil Gatenby, Curator, will outline the story behind the show, why so? and other questions this might raise.

We hope you enjoy exploring the exhibition and events if you can make it to Darlington Library!

Booking is open now for three free and family friendly sessions for ages 8 years plus which are fast approaching at Darlington Library with all materials provided. Early booking is recommended.

Date: Saturday 27 January 2024

Time: 1.30pm – 3pm

Grow Your Own Creativity Paper Craft Workshop with Cabinet of Curiosity Studio: Make a Paper Palace

Click here to book your place on this session.

Join artists Caroline and Edmond of Cabinet of Curiosity Studio in making a paper architecture model of a glass house based on the Crystal Palace. The Crystal Palace inspired the Victorian fashion for greenhouses and was the creative catalyst for Darlington designers Richardson and Ross whose glass constructions were renowned across the UK and Europe.

This is a free family friendly activity suitable for ages 8 years plus. All materials will be provided, including the flat sheet paper toy model to make, alongside opportunity to customise your model using paper collage material.

Funding for this project has been provided by Arts Council England and Creative Darlington.

Date: Saturday 3 February 2024

Time: 1.30pm – 3pm

Grow Your Own Paper Craft Workshop with Cabinet of Curiosity Studio: Make Your Own Tunnel Book Art

Click here to book your place on this session.

Join artists Cabinet of Curiosity Studio in making ‘tunnel book’ art. Using a variety of paper and paper crafting techniques, you will learn how to make your own tunnel book inspired by nature that will give the illusion of depth and perspective through a series of paper scenes.

This is a free family friendly activity suitable for ages 8 years plus. All materials will be provided including templates to help get you started.

Funding for this project has been provided by Arts Council England and Creative Darlington.

Date: Saturday 10 February 2024

Time: 1.30pm – 3pm

Grow Your Own Creativity Paper Craft Workshop with Cabinet of Curiosity Studio: Roses and Crowns

Click here to book your place on this session.

Join artists Cabinet of Curiosity Studio in crafting floral and regal motifs inspired by the ornamentation found within the architecture of Darlington Library. There will be the scope to create a mobile incorporating your paper creations.

This is a free family friendly activity suitable for ages 8 years plus. All materials will be provided. 

Funding for this project has been provided by Arts. Council England and Creative Darlington.

As part of their close down The Bridge Centre for Visual Arts (Charity Reg No 1170869, Company Reg No 10034251) are looking to sell off various assets. One is an Abig Presse ungeared printing press with a 40 x 70cm print bed, model 170400 which they own. Further details of this model are available from the Abig website at https://www.abig.de/en/products/printing-presses/170400-printing-press-with-printing-plate-400x700mm-incl-printing-felt.

Included with the press currently owned by The Bridge Centre for Visual Arts are a set of cloths and the trolley with lockable wheels The Bridge Centre for Visual Arts currently use it on, as per picture above. They store the handle, bed and cloths separately and are prepared to consider any reasonable offers for the press and these as one lot. If you’re interested in finding out more about this opportunity of making an enquiry please contact Chris Clark, Director of The Bridge Centre for Visual Arts at chris@thebridgedarlington.org.uk

The Bridge Centre for Visual Arts is hosting a final programme of art courses for adults which begin in the week commencing Monday 8th January 2024, you can find out more by clicking here and e-mail the tutors to find out more and see if there are places still available to book. Courses normally run one session per week for 10 weeks and a number of fantastic artists are offering them in Darlington.

For example, Andy Taylor, who can be contacted by e-mail at taylor.andy77@yahoo.co.uk is leading a course at The Bridge Centre for Visual Arts focused on drawing and painting and advises as below:

All levels of expertise are welcome, from complete beginners to more advanced artists looking to improve their range of skills and techniques. The groups work in a wide variety of materials and methods.

Starting with drawing exercises and techniques to make your initial drawings crisp and accurate, we look at a variety of techniques including:

• Drawing from life

• The face

• Landscape

In turn, you’ll develop your skills to produce great images and build up to effective watercolour techniques.

Course Itinerary

1. A study drawn using the squaring up technique. One colour study in Indian ink.

2. A study drawn from life using the pencil/ruler. Finishing up with Conté crayon. 

3. An analysis of the human face, breaking it down into geometric shapes for guidance. 

4. A limited palette watercolour in three colours only. 

Just get in touch with Andy if you’re interested in finding out more or to book your place on this course, and we hope you enjoy a creative Spring.

Places can be booked now for the 10 week ceramics, drawing and painting courses running at The Bridge Centre for Visual Arts in Spring 2024 which start in the week commencing Monday 8 January 2024. The charity advise The Bridge Centre for Visual Arts Centre will be closing permanently on Friday 22 March 2024. Places are limited and if you want to find out more about the Spring 2024 creative courses or to book your place please contact the tutors by e-mail or in person.

The Forum Music Studios in Darlington has been awarded funding by Arts Council England recently which will be used to launch Young Blood – a creative music scheme aimed at 13 – 24 year olds, with applications now open to take part in Young Blood.

The Forum Music Studios not-for-profit community benefit society has designed the Young Blood programme to ensure young people have access and opportunities to engage and invest in the development of the live music sector. Young Blood will be held throughout 2024, and is split into three interconnected parts: Creators, Promoters and Live.

Young Blood Music Creators is a weekly session aimed at those 13 – 17 years old. During the sessions, the young creators will develop their music skills in a relaxed and creative environment, where they will have access to high quality resources and professional support.

The Young Blood Promoters programme, which begins in January 2024, has been designed for those aged 16 – 24 years old, and will give aspiring promoters the opportunity to organise a live event with a budget under guidance from mentors, including industry professionals.

The Creators and Promoters programmes culminate in Young Blood Live, a monthly gig night for teenagers (aimed at those 13 – 17 years old) that will be held at The Forum Music Centre.

“The music industry was heavily impacted by COVID-19, so it’s a privilege to be able to invite future generations to get involved in the Young Blood scheme and to be able to share their passion for live music.”

Alison McKay, Director of The Forum Music Studios

“This is an exciting new project that I hope will inspire future musicians and promoters. Thank you to Arts Council England for believing in and supporting our vision.”

Kirsten Yates, Creative Project Leader of Young Blood

Applications for Young Blood – Creators and Young Blood – Promoters are now available online. The deadline for applications is midnight on Sunday 31st December 2023. To find out more about Young Blood or to apply, visit The Forum Music Studios website (https://theforumonline.co.uk/young-blood/).

Darlington Borough Council has also offered Heritage & Culture fund (Creative Darlington) budget support to Young Blood, given it offers young people opportunities to gain real world experience in coordinating and promoting events for their peers with support from The Forum Music Studios, offers opportunities for young people to enjoy live music in the borough, and delivers on one of the five priorities in Darlington Cultural Strategy 2022 – 2026 ‘for Darlington to champion engagement with culture, particularly amongst children and young people’.

Darlington Orchestra’s next concert is on Saturday 27 January at 7.30pm in the Dolphin Centre’s Central Hall. The orchestra is looking forward to bringing light entertainment to a dark January evening. This accessible event presents a selection of popular classics, including a Viennese polka, a French march, a couple of English suites and music from the movies.

Special guests will be Darlington SING Community Choir performing two sets. The group is led by musical director Bridie Jackson, a renowned soloist and composer, and performs a wide variety of musical genres, predominantly in four-part acapella harmony. For more information about the choir, visit www.darlingtonsing.co.uk.

Ticket prices for the Winter Concert remain the same as the previous concert – at just £5 and £7. A printed programme is included in the ticket price, providing brief details about the music and composers. Plus, there’ll be a version available for children aged 5–11 years.

When: Saturday 27 January 2024 at 7.30pm (doors open 7pm)

Where: Central Hall at the Dolphin Centre, Horsemarket, Darlington DL1 5RP

Call: 01325 406000

Tickets: £7 (£5 concessions) from the venue

Online tickets: tinyurl.com/270124Concert (+ booking fee)

Please note: cash sales only at the concert for tickets (subject to availability)

• For further updates, follow the orchestra on Facebook.com/darlingtonorchestra, Instagram.com/darlington_orchestra and Twitter.com/DarloOrchestra

Creative Darlington has supported Blue Cabin as a partner and project funder, in making it possible for care-experienced babies and children in Darlington to benefit from music-making sessions which have been specially designed to promote development and attachment.

Blue Cabin have now extended their This is the Place project to include a bank of free, online resources which mean that anyone can learn more about early years music-making and the impact it can have on babies and children. It includes a playlist of songs, a short film and podcast episodes, explaining how singing and music can help with attachment, language acquisition, communication and development. 

They’re also holding a free, in-person training session on early years music-making in Darlington on Monday 4 December 2023 (more info and tickets are available here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/this-is-the-place-a-practical-guide-to-early-years-music-making-tickets-759573333287). 

Blue Cabin want as many people as possible have access to these free resources.  I’m delighted Creative Darlington and colleagues in Darlington Borough Council’s Looked After Children Resources are backing their brilliant work, which has secured Youth Music grant support.