Developing skills in sound engineering

We are delighted to announce that we have received support from the Lakes to the Sea investment panel to improve facilities in our downstairs performance space at the Kirkgate Centre in Cockermouth. The funding will provide industry standard PA equipment to compliment the existing sound facilities at the centre, as well as enable the sound engineers at the Kirkgate to …

Time to celebrate with Andrea Bocelli!

Music lovers in Cockermouth will get the opportunity to help world-renowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli celebrate his 30-year career later this month. Andrea Bocelli 30: The Celebration (PG) is a musical extravaganza filmed over three days in a breathtaking natural amphitheatre, the Teatro del Silenzio (Theatre of Silence), in the singer’s hometown of Lajatico, Tuscany. The film captures Andrea in …

It’s Cockfrock Time Again October 2024

Cockfrock — Cockermouth’s ever-popular fashion shopping extravaganza — is back with another special pre-Christmas event! An annual two-day sale of pre-loved, good-quality ladies fashion usually takes place at the town’s Kirkgate Centre each Spring. However, with Christmas not far away, organisers have once again decided to stage an Autumn event this weekend to allow people to grab a bargain in …

Press Release: Arts Council Capital Funding Project well underway

Work has begun on an ambitious project at the Kirkgate Centre in Cockermouth. With funding awarded through last year’s round of the UK shared prosperity fund, the centre now has a fully refurbished lift, improved lighting and soon (thanks to investment from this year’s round of the same fund) an accessible WC on the first floor. “This marks the completion …

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: £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: 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 …