IMPORTANT MESSAGE:
We are commencing some essential work on our lift at the Kirkgate Centre on Monday 5th August which will mean the lift being out of use for a few weeks.
Apologies to anyone who will be affected by this disruption, but there will only be stair access to our auditorium from the duration of the refurbishment work, we will update the website as soon as we can.
Work with us on an exciting new project
We are recruiting a freelance curator to develop an exhibition on the history of beer and brewing in Cockermouth. The exhibition will be on display in December 2024.
The exhibition is part of our community-led heritage project looking at the history of brewing in Cockermouth and the surrounding area, funded by UK Government. The project will explore the origins of brewing as a cottage industry in the town up to the closure of Jennings and the effect that has had on the local community.
You will be working with the volunteers from our Heritage Group to present an exhibition about the history of beer, pubs and brewing in Cockermouth, including the role of Jennings Brewery in the town. The exhibition will draw on information and objects in the Kirkgate heritage collection, as well as research by Heritage Group volunteers. You will play a key role in bringing this exhibition to a wide audience in an impactful and accessible way.
You’ll be working alongside the Kirkgate Arts and Heritage’s Community Project Officer, Heritage Group volunteers and a freelance designer
For more information about the role, please contact Helen Johnston, Community Projects Officer, helen@thekirkgate.com or phone 01900 829966
Deadline: 9am, 30th August 2024.
Fee: £2000 (inc VAT)
To apply: Please send an expression of interest to Helen Johnston helen@thekirkgate.com
Kings Award for Voluntary Service
We are delighted to announce that we are one of the seven Cumbrian organisations who have received The Kings Award for Voluntary Service this year.
“Every day, millions of people across the UK are making a difference by volunteering. Each year, outstanding examples of this work are celebrated through the King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS).
Created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and previously known as The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS), the Award has been shining a light on the fantastic work of voluntary groups from all across the UK for many years.
Equivalent to an MBE, KAVS is the highest Award given to local voluntary groups in the UK, and they are awarded for life.”
You can see a full list of the organisations receiving this prestigious award here.
Our volunteers celebrating the news!
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:
“Creative talent is valued, developed, and supported with opportunities for all to actively engage with and enjoy the arts, our local heritage and community life”
Our values:
Commitment – Our staff and volunteers are dedicated to delivering our mission.
Inclusion – We aim to make art, heritage, and culture accessible to all our communities.
Sustainability – We aim to ensure that the organisation is secure for future generations from both financial and environmental perspective.
Nurturing – We aim to provide an environment that encourages growth, development of skills confidence and enjoyment for all.
WHAT’S ON
The Dead Don’t Hurt (15)
18th September 2024 2:00pm (Doors open at 1:00 pm)
Kirkgate Centre
The Dead Don't Hurt is a story of star-crossed lovers on the western U.S. frontier in the 1860s. Vivienne Le Coudy (Vicky Krieps) is a fiercely independent woman who embarks on a relationship with Danish immigrant Holger Olsen (Viggo Mortensen). After meeting Olsen in San Francisco, she agrees to travel with him to his home near the quiet town of ...
Friday night Pizza with Fermento
20th September 2024 6:00pm
Kirkgate Centre
Friday night is film and a pizza night at Kirkgate! Our bar is open from 6pm, ready for you to relax with a drink and a tasty treat from our friends at Fermento. Simply order your pizza directly via the link below, and mention in the comments box that you are coming to the Kirkgate (don't forget to book your ...
Treasure (12A)
20th September 2024 7:00pm (Doors open at 6:00 pm)
Kirkgate Centre
A father-daughter road trip set in 1990s Poland, TREASURE follows Ruth (Dunham), an American music journalist, and her father, Edek (Fry), a charmingly stubborn Holocaust survivor, on a journey to his homeland. While Ruth is eager to make sense of her family's past, Edek embarks on the trip with his own agenda. This emotional, funny culture clash of two New ...
Crafts@Kirkgate: The Craft of Drawing- back to basics
21st September 2024 9:30am
Kirkgate Centre
Join award-winning artist Celia Burbush for a relaxing and playful workshop designed to remind you of how wonderfully rewarding the daily craft of drawing can be. Moving from imaginative exercises aimed to unleash a breadth of marks and expression, to more traditional academy skills that underpin all visual art, we will complete the day with the meditative practice of working ...