News from producers around Derbyshire

The Buxton Spa Prize will again attract and encourage artists of all ages and abilities to paint the town in the open air (en plein air) during May and June. The prize which was successfully launched in 2014 aims to raise the profile of artists and their work and further enhance Buxton’s national reputation as a centre for arts and culture.

Backward Glance, presented by Live & Local is a surreal whodunit and will be on the small stage at Pinxton Village Hall in March.

For those of you who love pottery and would like to make more of it, a pottery collective is being set up in Wirksworth, Derbyshire.

This will be a shared studio space where members can share equipment and skills. A few more potters are needed to make it viable though!

There is a meeting on Thursday 19 February in the Red Lion pub in Wirksworth at 7.30pm. If you would like to find out more about this exciting new venture, please go along to the meeting.

It was originally Made in Derbyshire in 1429. Now it is being made again. Dronfield’s medieval Hall Barn will be opening towards the end of the year as the town’s hub for a programme of arts, heritage and natural history activities. It will also become an iconic venue for a wide range of events ranging from weddings to performance.

Peak District Artisans have announced details of their 2015 programme of events, featuring a new exhibition at Tatton.

Part of the exciting new Spring programme at the flagship LEVEL Centre in Rowsley is the first event of its kind in the area – a unique club-style night for people with learning disabilities, their carers and friends.

Lizzie Hobbs has recently published a book, which combines her artwork with the observation of patterns.

The internationally renowned and award-winning Buxton Festival featuring opera, music and books will take place from 10 to 26 July. Much anticipated opera performances include Verdi’s Giovanna d’Arco, Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor and a concert performance of Charpentier’s Louise. Olivier award-winning Elijah Moshinsky, who has previously directed productions for the Metropolitan Opera New York and Royal Opera House Covent Garden will be directing Giovanna d’Arco.    

This month's poem by Jennifer Vaudin, Settling down with a good book, is very apt as it is National Libraries Day on Saturday 7th February. Jennifer moved to Matlock in September 2009. A move which prompted her to read some great books and poems inspired by the county - and to write this lovely poem.

A brief biography of Vera Brittain's time in Buxton, Derbyshire.