FRIENDS COMMUNITY HUB
Our newly developed not-for-profit enterprise to provide a multi purpose space for the community right on
street level.
Darlington Creative Market
Last Saturday each second month, 11-2pm (July, Sept and Nov 23)
Showcasing & providing a sales outlet for a variety of talented
local artists, designers and makers once a month.
HIRE THE SPACE
- For arts, crafts exhibitions, pop up shops, workshops, public engagement events & more.
- Priority for 7 day hires but day/hour or month available.
- Large glass street level windows for display and advertising during hire.
- Accessible toilets and kitchen facilities available next door at Quaker meeting house.
Prices:
Sole use
- Week/7 days: £200
- Per hour: £12.00
- One day: (24 hour period) £85.00
Get in touch:
- For a site visit or for more details, please email Helen: Manager@darlingtonquakers.org
Phone 07941 338169
Background
The space is part of the Quaker Meeting House estate portfolio which includes Butterwick Hospice shop, Indulgence beauty salon and Quaker Business Centre (above Butterwicks). It had been leased out to Footprints Christian Bookshop for many years but when they moved down Skinnergate to number 51, we decided to think more creatively about its use.
The "Hub"
The shop space has been refurbished and thanks to a generous grant from Creative Darlington (Darlington Borough Council), has permanant wall mounted exhibition boards all around the space for easy installation of art work or display materials.
It opened in May 2022 with Darlington Borough Council Arts Festival but it was still far from finished. Bit by bit, a team of fantastic volunteers helped scape the floor, paint the walls and add the touches of love that has turned it from dilapidated and unloved shop to colourful, funky, arty and creative space for the whole community.
DIARY
Recent examples -
"Cabinet of Curiosities "Half term workshops 21st & 28th Oct"
"Palestinian art exhibition" 14th -20th November
"Kippersmith & friends" 28th Nov - 4th December
"Creatives Market" 10th Dec: free traders market place for artists and makers
Christmas market 12-18th Dec 2022
2023
Creatives Market 28th January 2023
Diane Patterson Wildlife artist exhibition 6-12th Feb
Barbara Wills water colours & Photography 13th-20th March
Village Pictures April & May 23
Studio 24 Exhibition May 23
GALLERY
Enjoy some of the collected images in our gallery from the early days refubishment through to recent events.
Removing the old shop sign, we found underneath, a blast of the 1970s in form of Snowfresh! Yes it had once been a frozen food shop. Its a piece of the Quaker site which has certainly seen some history, having fomally been part of the Quaker education space.
During summer 2022, we've hosted three free print workshops run by Auxillary, Middlesborough with over 100 people of all ages a day popping in. Later in 2022 it featured fanastic photography exhibition, sales of soft furnishings, aprons, earings and textiles design. Since then, award wining Cabinet of Curiosities team have run a paper crafting workshop, we have hosted week long exhibitons from Village Pictues, Studio 24 and Palestinian artists to name a few. The Hub is making a name for itself on Kinnergate for sure!
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