Our Freedom: Then and Now
Kirkgate Arts and Heritage are a part of the Our Freedom: Then and Now project. Sixty arts centres and libraries across Britain are taking part in nationwide celebrations reflecting on what freedom means 80 years after the end of the Second World War.
We are working with two local artists, storyteller Jessie McMeekin and musician JP Worsfold, to create a community musical that will be performed by local people at Cockermouth’s Christmas Lights Switch-On on Sunday, 23rd November, and at The Kirkgate Centre on 14th December.
The musical is inspired by stories from Cockermouth at the end of the Second World War and in the post-war period, using research from the Cockermouth Heritage Collection, alongside reflections from the people living in the town today on what freedom means to them.
Find out more about the project and how you can get involved.
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:
“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
Crafts@Kirkgate: Gilded Christmas Decorations
8th November 2025 11:30am
Kirkgate Centre
The perfect workshop to ring in the Christmas Spirit! Christmas starts here with this wonderfully engaging workshop. Step into the spirit of the season with a chance to gild your own Christmas Tea Light, hanging Ornament and take a nostalgic journey back to the 19th century gilding walnuts. In true Victorian fashion, real walnuts were once gilded and transformed into ...
Sandy Smith – Shout Out to the Sixties!
8th November 2025 7:30pm (Doors open at 6:30 pm)
Kirkgate Centre
Get Ready to step back into the fabulous music of the 1960s with this toe-tapping, twisting, head-shaking’ celebration of the decade's greatest idols, This show honours the Artistes who made the music of the era unforgettable, from Dusty Springfield, Lulu, Cilla Black, Petula Clark, Aretha Franklin, to the Shirelles, The Supremes, Tina Turner, and many more. Featuring over thirty beloved ...
The Sunday Session
9th November 2025 2:00pm (Doors open at 1:45 pm)
Kirkgate Centre
Are you a musician, looking for a place to test out your tunes? Do you sing/play and would love to meet up with other musicians to have a bit of a jam? Our open mic night has evolved! We're starting a new approach, to cater for all, with our Sunday Sessions. Come down for a listen, or bring an instrument ...
Our Freedom: Then and Now – Sing for Freedom
9th November 2025 2:00pm
Christ Church
Would you like to sing in a scratch choir to celebrate the idea of freedom? Join Kirkgate Arts and Heritage for singing workshops to learn brand new songs written by JP Worsfold for a community musical that will be performed at the Cockermouth Christmas Lights switch-on event on Sunday 23rd November. You don't need to have any previous experience of ...