Black Swan Arts 2021 Event Archives

Join us for a festive Christmas Makers Market. There will be mulled wine and other treats from The River House. Our Studio Shops will be open as well as the Round Tower Gallery and shop. We will have live music to keep you entertained while you do a bit of late night shopping. Find unique and beautifully crafted presents for your nearest and dearest. And support local and independent makers.

We are delighted to offer this festive opportunity to local makers, keeping Christmas local. For independent makers these last couple of years have been extremely challenging. Many have fallen through the net of financial support and usual sales opportunities have reduced considerably. It’s vital that we support our creative community in a safe, enjoyable way. We will encourage our supporters to come and buy your festive gifts direct from wonderful artists.

The ground floor of Frome’s arts centre will open late for this event, including our shop, courtyard, studio shops and River House café (with their new festive menu, selection of hot, alcoholic and soft drinks). The courtyard will be decorated with fairy lights, the evening will feature live music outdoors to ensure a real festive atmosphere, and we will ensure the event is features in local media, our website and popular social media channels.

Confirmation and final details will be sent Tuesday 16 and payment is required by 5pm Friday 19 November to secure your place. We will provide payment instructions once we have confirmed your space.

We’re open late on Friday 19 November along with many other venues in town. Our Studio Shops, The River House café and Black Swan Arts shop will be open 6-8pm for late night shopping.

You can also catch the previews for our shop exhibition, with Mark Karasick and our Round Tower Gallery exhibition with the Old Bakery Artists. Come and meet the artists, look for original and unique gifts from independent makers whilst enjoying a drink from The River House.

“Whatever your genre (fitction, poetry or PhD), pop by our lovely studios (on the top floor to meet other writers and chat over tea and cake.”

Find out more, TheChiefProcrastinator@gmail.com or 01373 467887

Frome Light the Night are offering free Advanced Lantern Making Workshops where you can learn all the skills you need to build a stunning lantern. Their theme for this year’s Lantern Parade is ‘Enchanted Winter Garden’.

Workshops will take place in our Long Gallery throughout November. Materials and refreshments will be available.

Booking is required.

This course takes place during Autumn 2021 and is hosted by local felt and community artist Bessie Bidder. Bessie is a Frome based fibre artist who works as an artist producing commissions. She has taught felt making to many local community groups, in a large number of schools in Frome and the surrounding area. She has successfully gained grants from the Arts Council England and Frome Town Council for large collaborative felt projects working within the community. She also works regularly with children who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) running therapeutic felt making sessions.

No previous experience is required. Each workshop will complete a different piece:

• a simple felt picture
• felt wall hanging
• three dimensional felt flowers
• purse/glasses case
• puppet and a needle felted animal

Prices include materials. Recommend pre-booking for these popular and friendly classes.

This event takes place during October half term and is hosted by local felt and community artist Bessie Bidder. Bessie is a Frome based fibre artist who works as an artist producing commissions. She has taught felt making to many local community groups, in a large number of schools in Frome and the surrounding area. She has successfully gained grants from the Arts Council England and Frome Town Council for large collaborative felt projects working within the community. She also works regularly with children who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) running therapeutic felt making sessions.

The cost of this workshop is £12 for a family pass or individual ticket. Pre-booking is recommended.

This event takes place during October half term and is hosted by local felt and community artist Bessie Bidder. Bessie is a Frome based fibre artist who works as an artist producing commissions. She has taught felt making to many local community groups, in a large number of schools in Frome and the surrounding area. She has successfully gained grants from the Arts Council England and Frome Town Council for large collaborative felt projects working within the community. She also works regularly with children who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) running therapeutic felt making sessions.

The cost of this workshop is £12 for a family pass or individual ticket. Pre-booking is recommended.

This pre-pandemic regular social meeting for local artists and creatives is meeting for the first time this year. Come and join us in our lovely (hopefully sunny) courtyard garden. It’s free to come along and there’s no set agenda, just a casual creative meet up. Regulars and first timers welcome as are all ages, abilities and creative genres.

The Frome Open Art Trail team will also be handing out venue packs for entrants, for the art trail during the July Frome Festival.

Find out more on the Frome Artist Café’s Facebook group

Local Felt and community artist Bessie Bidder is running Felt making workshops in the Round Tower at Black Swan Arts. Places are limited to keep social distance.

Flat felt, picture making, for adults

Thursday 8 July, 1-3pm £20

Three dimensional Felt flower making, for adults

Thursday 8 July, 7-9pm £20

Hand puppet making workshops for all adults and children

Friday 9 July, 4-5.30pm, £12 per person
Saturday 10 July, 2-3.30pm, £12 per person