The aim of Leisureworks' Arts Development function is to work in partnership with other public and voluntary sector agencies, arts organisations and professional artists, to offer additional opportunities for engaging with the arts in the wider community.
Since 2010, we have been providing arts programmes and events for young people in the Stanley area, funded by Stanley Area Action Partnership and Arts Council England (Grants for the Arts). This programme has included the alcohol-free young bands nights at Lamplight Arts Centre, among many others.
We also run regular arts workshop programmes during the school holidays, which bring young people together to learn new skills under the guidance of professional artists, and have fun at the same time.
Another major piece of work has been the delivery, on behalf of Chester le Street Area Action Partnership, of a mobile cinema programme for family audiences, throughout venues in Chester le Street during the school holidays. This work supports priorities around providing activities for young people and sustaining voluntarily run community buildings.
Leisureworks is currently working with a new initiative called "Durham Creatives", funded through Durham County Council and the European Regional Development Fund, which has been set up to support small business start-ups in the arts and creative industries within County Durham. Click here to view Durham Creatives website.
Writers Open Mic Nights & Poetry Slams
Returning after the New Year to bring you another season of lively spoken word evenings in the Auditorium bar. Great venue for road-testing poetry and prose in front of a warm and friendly audience. Some of the region's finest performers often make surprise appearances. Bring your work and join in the fun. Or just sit back and listen to the words fly. Acoustic musicians and stand-ups welcome.
For further information about Arts in the Community contact Martin Weston on 01207 218895 or email m.weston@leisureworks.net
Colour Your Life
Colour Your Life is an Arts on Prescription service funded by NHS County Durham. This County-wide service aims to provide access to a range of creative activities which contribute to the prevention and improvement of mental health whilst developing emotional resilience for individuals through developing new and brushing up on existing skills. Inclusion criteria apply. Those attending will be asked to complete registration and monitoring forms. This is a 3 year partnership programme between Leisureworks, Pioneering Care Partnership(PCP) and Jack Drum Arts. For further information contact colouryourlife@leisureworks.net or artsprescription.northcentral@nhs.net (secure server for referrals) or call 01207 218852.
Click here for the Colour Your Life Programme
Colour Your Life Downloads: Who is eligible? | Outreach programme
WEEKLY ART STUDIO TIMETABLE:
Mondays
16:00 – 17:00
Arts & Craft for families, Lamplight Arts Centre, Stanley (note new time from April 2013)
Tuesdays
09:30 – 10:30
Arts & Craft for families, Sure Start, Brandon, Durham (New from 16 April 2013)
10:45 – 12:15
Mixed arts and craft for adults , Sure Start, Brandon, Durham (New from 16 April 2013
10:00 – 12:00
Fine arts for adults, Lamplight Arts Centre, Stanley
Wednesdays
10:30 – 12:30
Mixed media arts for adults, The Lodge, Consett & Blackhill Park
13:00 – 15:00
Mixed media arts for adults, The Lodge, Consett & Blackhill Park
Thursdays
13:30 – 15:30
Fine arts for adults, Mill House Court, Durham (New from 11 April 2013)
Made of Steel
Made of Steel is a Heritage Lottery funded project. This is a creative heritage project capturing the memories, stories and archives around Consett Steelworks and the surrounding community then and now before they are lost.
Colour Your Life are inviting anyone with a story, memory, photos or archive about Consett Steelworks or the wider community at that time, to get in touch and become part of an exciting and important local community project.
Visit www.madeofsteel.co.uk for latest developments, workshops and opportunities or email your story or archives to madeofsteel.yourstory@gmail.com Call 01207 218 852 to discuss this project.