INfORMATIvE AND CREATIvE EvENTS

The Foxlowe Arts Centre in Leek is a community run facility in the heart of Leek – standing tall at the top of the town’s Market Place.

It has been run by the community for the community for the past 11 years, hosting a multitude of facilities, events and activities.

There is the Drawing Room Cafe, the main Art Gallery, the Cafe Gallery, the Foxlowe Gardens, the Bromfield function room with two stages, the Fox & Crow Gallery, Mrs Cruso’s Garden Conservatory, The Rainbow Room cinema and talks area, along with the Gateway Shed initiative run at the back of the Foxlowe.

The remaining rooms and spaces within the Georgia building are all hired out to a host of local creative businesses.

Plus the venue has a packed programme of events and activities from film and documentary nights, creative workshops, comedy gigs, talks, live music, theatre, art and language classes, actors group, as well as a number of community events throughout the year.

The latest Foxlowe Supporters’ Evening was held at the Georgian building recently and saw more than 40 people attend to hear all about what’s been happening at the centre.

Foxlowe Trust chairman Chris Thompson led the presentation about what’s been happening at the arts centre over the past year and also outlined plans for its future.

Other Foxlowe coordinators also spoke of updates from their departments within the arts centre including the Creative Hub, and theatre shows.

Visitors were treated to live music by local musicians Paul Hill and Chris Perry, as well as mulled wine and canapés.

Meanwhile, the Staffordshire Contemporary

Artist and Designer Fair made a welcome return to the Foxlowe Arts Centre last month.

Now in its tenth year, the free admission twoday event, hosted a wide variety of local inspirational creative work by professional artists, designers and makers alongside art students from Buxton and Leek College.

Event organiser Chris Thompson, who is also chair of the Foxlowe Arts Centre, said: “The Staffordshire Contemporary Artist Designers Fair was organised by Leek School of Art (Buxton & Leek College, part of the University of Derby) in conjunction with the Foxlowe Arts Centre.

“Our late colleague Suzanne Mellor was passionate about the quality and variety of art and design practitioners.

“Many who exhibited at the fair were exstudents of the school of art and also present and former tutors including Anna-Lisa Fraser who created the degree course.

“We also had a Leek School of Art stand managed by BTEC students who designed mugs, cards and Christmas decorations which was hugely popular with visitors.

“Artists included print makers, jewellers, ceramics, graphic design, 3D, textiles and fine artists.”

Chris continued: “Friends of Suzanne wanted to carry this legacy on with Cathey Yardley taking the lead role, supported by Jennie Morrey, AnnaLisa Fraser and myself with help from the School of Art staff, Celia Kent, Rob Barks and Leanne Cunningham.

“A big thank you to visitors and those that took part, we are already planning for SCadf23.”

To find out more about the Foxlowe Arts Centre and what’s coming up at the venue, go online to: www.foxloweartscentre.org.uk.

Belinda