Celebration Day

Our Celebration Day is a day to make, eat and celebrate together, with gratitude. The day will feature open studios, a family workshop, a film screening, a pop-up exhibition, and a mini-parade through the town centre inspired by Old Midsummer’s Day*. It is also a fundraiser to support our site move in Winter 2024.

11am- 12:30pm

: We're on the move! In 2025, we will open the doors to a new public arts venue on Aumberry Gap in Loughborough, near Pinfold Gate. The new arts venue will include a public gallery and learning space, artist studios, a community kitchen and a pop-up cafe.

On the morning of the celebration event, we’ll be sharing the plans for our new site and we’d love to hear what you think, as part of our Build It Here** programme. We’ll be asking for your thoughts on the move and appreciate any feedback you might have. It's an opportunity to ask questions and have open discussions with us regarding the new site. There will also be free refreshments.

Open Studios: Explore our studio of painters, printmakers and multimedia makers. Our artists will be on hand to talk to you about their work (access via stairs only).

1pm- 3pm

: Come together to make large-scale murals using natural materials, themed around ‘Wishing ‘and ‘Thanking’. These will be used in our mini-parade later in the day.

3pm-3:45pm

Film Screening: Join us for a short film assembled by Joshua Jones and David John Scarborough exploring signs and symbols. The film will introduce our mini parade.

Mini-Parade: We will journey from MPND, carrying artworks and signs, gathering together at Fearon Fountain to make wishes for the future.

*This year’s Celebration Day is held on Old Midsummer's Day, a day linked to feasts, processions and fairs in civic centres. Within the Peak district, usually in the first week of July, villages come together and take part in ‘Well-Dressing’. An event associated with thanksgiving for the continuing supply of flowing water, as well as wishing for the future.

**The ‘Build It Here’ campaign is a programme of events, talks and workshops to co-produce the new space with artists, young people, families and community groups. This will run alongside fundraising activities to secure £40K to fit out the venue. Work is due to begin in September 2024 at the 195 SQM site, which was built as part of the Luxurio Student Accommodation redevelopment, located on the ground floor and with street access via the entrance on Aumberry Gap. The building will open to the public in February 2025 with a programme of free exhibitions, creative workshops, celebration events, open studios, craft markets and coffee mornings.

Host or Publisher Modern Painters, New Decorators