Becki CrossleyBased in Thirsk, Rural Arts provide a programme of visual, performing and applied arts as well as media skills to communities in rural areas and market towns, where cultural services may be low to non-existent. The company has over 15 years of hands on experience in providing artist led workshops and community projects across Yorkshire.
Based in the busy market town of Thirsk, Rural Arts inhabits one of the town’s Grade 2 listed building, The Courthouse. The Courthouse is friendly, accessible and vibrant venue containing a café, gallery and shop aside from offering an extensive programme of workshops, performance, events and exhibitions for all ages and abilities. The Gallery is open all year round and offers a variation of exhibitions ranging from ceramics to sculpture which are refreshed every couple of months to ensure there is always something new to view.
Get Creative Workshops offer a wide range of activities in both the visual and performing arts for all ages to have a pop at. All the company’s artists and performers offer a high level of art form skill, are excellent communicators and have experience of working in community and educational settings. As well as a large list of workshops to choose from, the company also offers you the choice to decide where your workshop should take place. Events can be tailored to suit all ages and abilities and can be delivered at The Courthouse or in a local venue to suit you.
Several workshops are available to communities across many art forms and fall under the following categories; Ceramic, Glass and Mosaic/ Fabric, Dye and Stitch/ Digital: Computers and Photography/ Draw, Paint and Print and last but not least Sculpture. So whether you’re interested in creating your first website or wanting to create a ceramic mural, Rural Art’s has got it covered. Workshops are typically half or full day events however longer-term projects are available and can mix and match different art forms to suit the project. All workshops are suitable for primary and secondary schools, colleges, community groups, youth groups, family groups, children’s centers, older people and those with special needs.
The company also offers and an On Tour service extending its professional live theatre, dance, music, comedy and even puppetry right to the heart of rural communities that may not necessarily have the resources to put on the events themselves. The company offers a range of shows, all adaptable to small venues, specially selected to appeal to diverse audiences of all ages. Through Rural Art’s LEADER funding scheme, the company is also able to offer several free services to villages in hope of developing new and lasting skills for communities such as marketing and promotion of local events and website management.
To find out more about what the company can do for you and your local community, or to book an event, click here to visit the website. Be sure to take a glance at previous and current projects for inspiration as well as checking out the monthly programme to keep up to date with events and exhibitions at The Courthouse.
