We are thrilled to announce the opening of our new dedicated collaborative artist studio at Bedgebury in Goudhurst. The studios will be home to professional artists but will also host art sessions, workshops and craft parties. With a gallery and supplies
Our adult art sessions grow more and more popular and it isn’t hard to see why! With all materials supplied and coffee and cake included, we have now added Wednesday morning to our session list.
Our Library of things has arrived !
you can hire everything from a cup to a gazebo, a glue gun to a swinging crib, right here on our website, just book it online in our library of things section, collect and pay for the things, clean the thing, return the thing. It’s super easy and saves you buying things that you maybe just want to try, like a potters wheel or a Cricut machine and it helps our centre to keep on going too so it’s a win win !
We have had a wonderful few months and have been so glad to have met so many wonderful local people. Without you, we wouldn’t be here and we have loved having you come along and become a part of our art family.
Since we opened in July, we have been humbled by how many wonderful children and adults have come through our doors. Watching you all be so creative and seeing the talent that exists here in Maidstone has been an inspiring thing to see.
We have watched our younger students, win art scholarships to wonderful local schools, we have seen our older members of the community, connect with a whole new group of friends and it has been my honour and my joy to have you all there.
************Our wonderful Landlord and Landlady Bernard & Anne Ralph have been generous in every sense of the word. They have supported us and allowed us to build this wonderful centre and now they have allowed us to create something even more amazing. They have allowed us to use the adjoining unit and create an amazing ”Art Barn Annexe” which will be used for pottery, clay, street art and messy play. This will allow us to have more children and adults to come along and explore the joy of creativity. We cannot thank them enough and we feel absolutely blessed to have their support . Thank You ************
***BREAKING NEWS****
The Maidstone Art Centre is coming to you….. Watch this space as we offer workshops in the town centre in collaboration with a fantastic local business. If you are unable to get to the art centre in Boughton Monchelsea, you will now be able to join in at a town centre location.
We were thrilled to lead the ”Elmer on tour” workshop at Lenham library for Maidstone Borough Council. The children loved creating their Elmer decoration and we are looking forward to the Yalding library workshop in September and hope to see you there.
The workshops are free and last for two hours, no need to book, just drop in.
It was such an honour to have the Lady Mayor of Maidstone attend the centre and show her support for what we are doing here, and her return visit in March was equally as special when she took time to talk to everyone and was so impressed by the work being created here.
We are thrilled to have been allocated some funding from the Kent Reconnect fund. This will allow us to offer free summer art sessions to children across the borough, from low income families.
We are currently accepting registration of interest applications and we will contact successful applicants nearer the date.
Our Wonderful quiz night on the 24th November was held at The Boughton Village Hall. It was such a fun evening and we raised £195.00 for heating ! We are so grateful to everyone who attended and a huge thank you to our generous raffle donations. Leeds Castle Falconry Team for a bird of prey experience for 2, Dreamland Margate for VIP ticket to see Paul Weller, Maidstone United Football Club for vip tickets, and so many other wonderful prizes which were donated.