Musicians and music fans in the Cockermouth area will soon have another live venue to enjoy. The town’s Kirkgate Centre is launching a monthly Sunday Session on the heels of its Open Mic nights that used to take place on a Friday. The first of the new Sunday Sessions takes place on Sunday, September 8 at 2pm (doors open 1.45pm, …
Exhibition in celebration of ‘offcomers’ to Cockermouth
A new exhibition featuring the stories of people who’ve settled in the Cockermouth area from around the UK and beyond opens at the town’s Kirkgate Centre next week. ‘Offcomers: Celebrating stories of the many journeys to Cockermouth’ runs from Friday, August 16 until Sunday, September 1 (free entry). Helen Johnston, Kirkgate’s Community Projects Officer, explained: “Our new exhibition features the …
Double grant boost for Cockermouth’s Kirkgate Centre
Cockermouth’s Kirkgate Centre has received over £43,000 funding from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The centre’s management has just been given confirmation that two separate grants have been awarded to help fund two discrete projects that it wishes to deliver. Capital funding totalling £26,739 has been allocated from the Shared Prosperity Fund and the Rural England Prosperity Fund towards …
Press Release: Discovering the history and heritage of Cockermouth and its people
Participants wanted to help celebrate Cumbria’s diverse heritage An ambitious 18-month project that aims to share and celebrate West Cumbria’s diverse culture and heritage is looking to hear from more local people as it enters its final phase. Organised by Kirkgate Arts and Heritage based in Cockermouth, In My Shoes kicked off in April 2023 and runs until this September. …
Press Release: Athletics Club building demolition plan approved
Athletics Club building demolition plan approved Plans to demolish a former athletics club base adjacent to Cockermouth’s Kirkgate Centre have been approved by Cumberland Council. Demolition is due to commence on Monday, July 1 and will signal the latest stage in ambitious plans to develop a new home for a heritage collection showcasing Cockermouth’s history. Kirkgate Arts and Heritage Group …
Press Release: Kirkgate Arts Awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service
NEWS RELEASE Cockermouth’s Kirkgate Arts and Heritage has been presented with the King’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK. The Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria, Alexander Scott, handed over the award to Rob Higgins, Chair of the Kirkgate’s Board of Trustees, at a special celebration event attended amongst others by Kirkgate volunteers, staff …
Press Release: £220,000 awarded from Arts Council England’s Capital Investment Programme
£220,000 awarded to Kirkgate Arts & Heritage in Cockermouth from Arts Council England’s Capital Investment Programme · Kirkgate Arts & Heritage in Cockermouth to benefit from a share of £24.2 million through Arts Council England’s Capital Investment Programme · The organisation will use the funds to improve the energy efficiency of the Kirkgate Centre, with new lighting throughout (including replacing …
Press Release: Planned demolition of the former Derwent Athletics Club
The former Derwent Athletics Club Building was originally a temporary classroom, built after the war to accommodate more pupils in the original All Saints School, Cockermouth. So historically part of what is now the Kirkgate Centre. The building was never designed to have lasted so long, and with asbestos in its fabric and the condition deteriorating over the years it …
Press Release: It’s Time to get Creative at the Kirkgate!
Summer’s approaching and now’s the time to get creative with Kirkgate Arts and Heritage! Over the coming months, the centre has organised a range of writing, craft and cooking workshops for people to learn new skills with a team of experienced and knowledgeable tutors. For example, Jacqui Currie MA, a Cockermouth-based Lecturer in Creative Writing for the Open University, is …
Press Release: New chapter opens up for popular Literature Festival
Writing workshops, author interviews and a poetry open mic session are on offer alongside explorations of the power of music, the joys of cold-water swimming and even an alien-making class at the Kirkgate Literature Festival next week! Cockermouth’s Kirkgate Centre plays host to the two-day festival on Saturday, March 23, and Sunday, March 24, following on from the success of …