Darlington Arts Festival

Get creative in May with the Darlington Creates the Arts Festival hosted by Darlington 4 Culture.

11am - 4pm

FREE ENTRY - Along Skinnergate and the Friends Meeting House in Skinnergate

Darlington for Culture | Bringing Darlington arts together

A showcase for the arts organisations, individuals, groups, activites and venues. Featuring a wide range of stalls, a community hub and a programme of arts where workshops are held.

Exhibitors include:

• The Littlest Falcon
• Matt Scott Art
• Photographic Alchemi
• Nic Hodges Art
• Bola
• Pastel Pumpkin Tattoo
• Alan Taylor Art
• Respect Soaps
• Pots of Colour
• Myriad Mosaic and Glass
• Apple Blossom Jewels
• Locos in Motion
• Stitch and Create
• Darlington 4 Culture Volunteers
• Ceramics by Judith Walker
• Darlington Hippodrome
• Vicki Davidson Art
• THAT Design Studio
• Sue's treasured Frame
• Beer Can-dles
• Control Your Life
• Theatre Hullabaloo
• Illustrated by Linds
• Tim Jago Morris
• Alpaca Alpaca
• Little Rogue & Co
• The Poster Parlour
• Bowes Museum - including drop in crafts
• Little Lilybug Creations
• Teesside Woodturning Association
• Yvonne Preston - drop in crafts

Music from - Simon Wood at the Tapas Bar, Bondgate, Ochre Trio at Hatch Luncheonette, IMBRAND Ltd in Skinnergate.

Art Shop, galleries and materials in the town centre

• The Art Shop in Bondgate
• Creative Space in Post House Wynd
• Verde Art in Skinnergate
• Gallerina in Victoria Road
• Gillian Arnold in Post House Wynd
• The Works in the Cornmill Shopping Centre
• Boyes in Blackwellgate

The Library Location, Friends Meeting House

Vane Women – Writing Workshop 9:30 – 11:30am

"There's more to pockets than what they carry"

A fascinating workshop led by Sheila Binks.  Beginners or experienced writers of poetry or prose are welcome - just bring pen, paper, imagination and a readiness to write!

There may be opportunity to read from what you have written at the Vane Women reading afterwards.

Cost £3 - (Vane Women is a registered charity and any income goes into their funds for publishing new women writers in the North East of England). To book, please email

[email protected].  Max 15 participants.

Vane Women – Poetry/Prose Reading 11:30 – 12:30pm

Join Vane Women and put a Spring in Your Step this mid-May morning as they read from both new and published work.

Cost:  Free    

Getting Up Close in our writing  - with Ann Cuthbert and Pam Plumb 1:00pm – 2:30pm

1 hour 30 mins Cost £3 (money raised will be donated to Age UK Darlington.)

We’re going to really focus in and capture striking details of people, places or things in our

writing. We’ll work in miniature, which is what all writers need to do sometimes. We’ll aim

to capture the moment and to see the everyday in new ways.

This workshop is suitable for beginners as well as more experienced writers whatever genre

you work in. We’ll leave with a short finished piece or draft to work on.

Max 15 participants

The Elms Room Location

Stop Write Hear 3:00pm – 4:30pm

An opportunity for writers of any genre to share their words open mic style or for you to listen to a range of excellent work from local writers.

Max 20 performers/60 audience