News from producers around Derbyshire

Bennetts, the world’s oldest department store, has returned to the virtual high street with the official launch of a new retail website.

Ft. over 30 artists based in UK and Hong Kong. Exhibiting from 11 November - 13 December 2020.

To celebrate international cultural exchange between the UK and Hong Kong, the Peer to Peer: UK/HK Online Festival will be launching an online exhibition of new and existing digital artwork from UK and Hong Kong based artists from Wed 11 November to Sun 13 December 2020. The exhibition will be free to access and will accompany an online events programme discussing topical themes and issues affecting visual arts sectors across the world.

It would be fair to say that it has been quite a turbulent few months for us here at the Barn - from having to close the back in March, to re-opening at the start of July, and then dealing with myriad different changes along the way - such as the rule of six and lately tier two restrictions!

We’ve all felt stuck. Spending hours staring at a blank page. Watching the cursor torment us with its unending, repetitive blink. But it doesn’t have to be this way. This workshop will kick-start your imagination as we explore where writer’s block comes from and how you can overcome it. This is an online workshop delivered live via Zoom. This session was previously delivered as part of the Buxton Fringe Festival and is a repeat session.  

Date: Monday 7th December, 2020.  

Time: 6:30pm - 7:30pm  

Price - £12 

Welcome to the Autumn Newsletter; delayed by a few days so we could let you know how the recently announced lockdown will affect Cromford Mills.

The main mill yard is closed, but the Counting House Coffee Shop is open for takeaway food and drink.

You can use these links to take you directly to the articles in this newsletter:

While we plan for 2021, we are delighted to share the first in a series of conversations with creative team members who are helping to bring our productions to life. Our freelancers' skills are essential to our artistic endeavours and although their work largely happens behind the scenes, they contribute a huge amount of energy and talent to the Festival.

East Midlands Contempoary Visual Arts Network: In Memoriam Tribute Sculpture commission

A Derbyshire businessman has created a unique outdoor dining shelter to help save the hospitality industry during Covid-19.

Richard Sleigh, 50, from Stanley Village, believes his Freedom Pod – modelled on the Second World War Anderson air raid shelter – will solve the dilemma facing bars and
restaurants of keeping customers socially distanced.

It should equally appeal to diners, especially given the news that you are 19 times more likely to contract the virus indoors, than outside.