Lovers of Cumbria’s arts and heritage scene are being invited to buy into a little bit of local history … by ‘paying for a pane’ at Cockermouth’s Kirkgate Centre!
We have had the new double glazed sash windows on the car park side of the building for a few years now, and they don’t just look fantastic- they are much better for sound and heat insulation! We are now looking to finish the job with new windows at the rear and beck side of the centre, to keep the building cosy and looking it’s best for artists as well as customers.
Enormous thanks to Benny Walker Foundation, for getting us well underway with funding the project to finish all the windows, without their generous support we wouldn’t be able to do it. BUT! We do need a few more pennies in the pot to complete the work, which is where you can help…
There are three sponsorship options available, they can be found on our website here.
You can sponsor a small rear window at £50, a side window at £100 or a large rear window at £150.
We will of course be presenting a special thank you to all sponsors too, so keep your eyes peeled at future cinema events, and don’t forget to sign up to our mailing list to receive our monthly newsletter.
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About Us
The Kirkgate Centre is an entertainment and cultural venue at the heart of the lively community of Cockermouth, Cumbria.
We celebrate our local talent and heritage, and bring top quality professional entertainment to
our town and many other communities across the area to the west of the Lake District National Park.
Whether you enjoy films on a big screen, live music, theatre, exhibitions, shows for children and families or community events, Kirkgate has something for everyone. Our quirky character makes us a special venue for weddings, parties, festivals and conferences.
Our mission:
Kirkgate Arts and Heritage delivers opportunities for all to actively enjoy the arts, local heritage and community life; and ensures that creative talent is valued, developed and nurtured in a manner that is financially secure and commands enthusiastic public support.
We will ensure that the organization is sustainable for future generations, both financially and environmentally. We will also provide an environment that encourages growth, the development of skills and confidence, and enjoyment for all.
Strategic Objectives:
The mission will be delivered through the following strategic objectives:
- Kirkgate Arts and Heritage will be the pre-eminent deliverer of a broad range of geographically dispersed arts and community projects across Cumberland.
- Kirkgate Arts and Heritage will offer a long-term solution to ensure that the heritage collection is stored and cared for to a professional standard; and encourages engagement with it by the local community.
- The Kirkgate Centre will sustainably act as the community and cultural centre for Cockermouth.
- Kirkgate Arts and Heritage will successfully deliver a wide-ranging rural touring programme through Arts Out West.
- Kirkgate Arts and Heritage will have strengthened its financial position to ensure that the organisation has a sustainable future.
- Kirkgate Arts and Heritage will support and develop the roles of our volunteers, building on the strong tradition of volunteers being at the heart of the organisation.
WHAT’S ON
Virginia Woolf’s Night and Day (12A)
30th September 2026 2:00pm (Doors open at 1:00 pm)
Kirkgate Centre
Based on Virginia Woolf's funniest novel, Night & Day is an un-romantic comedy about a passionate astronomer Katharine Hilbery who does everything she can to avoid romantic love and marriage. Fun and contemporary in tone, this refreshing film showcases an ensemble of humorous performances against the ravishing backdrop of London in 1910, advances in science and technology, the suffragette movement ...
‘Out of Ink’ – Cumbria Printmakers Exhibition
1st October 2026 6:00pm
Kirkgate Centre
Out of Ink Returns to the Kirkgate Centre Following the success of last year's exhibition, Out of Ink returns to the Kirkgate Centre this October with a new collection of original prints by members of Cumbria Printmakers. The exhibition celebrates the remarkable diversity of contemporary printmaking, from bold linocuts and intricate etchings to collagraphs, monoprints and experimental techniques. Each artist ...
‘Out of Ink’ – Cumbria Printmakers Exhibition
2nd October 2026 1:00pm
Kirkgate Centre
Out of Ink Returns to the Kirkgate Centre Following the success of last year's exhibition, Out of Ink returns to the Kirkgate Centre this October with a new collection of original prints by members of Cumbria Printmakers. The exhibition celebrates the remarkable diversity of contemporary printmaking, from bold linocuts and intricate etchings to collagraphs, monoprints and experimental techniques. Each artist ...
The Odyssey (15)
2nd October 2026 7:00pm (Doors open at 6:00 pm)
Kirkgate Centre
Odysseus, king of Ithaca, embarks on a perilous journey to return home after the Trojan War. Crossing the Mediterranean Sea with his fellow soldiers, they soon find themselves battling not only the elements, but an array of deadly obstacles and mythical creatures along the way. A worthy new translation of an ancient text, and yet another monumental piece of work ...