Bluecoat to transform into a bustling marketplace for local artists this winter

During the festive season, the Bluecoat’s galleries will transform into a bustling marketplace, giving local artists, members of the Bluecoat’s Creative Community and beyond, the opportunity and the space to showcase and sell their work before Christmas.

The gallery will also feature a new exhibition, The Year That Was, a celebration of the exhibitions and public artworks shown at the Bluecoat in 2024, opening on Tuesday 3rd December – Sunday 21st December. The exhibition will include limited edition prints, posters and original artworks from our gallery programme and cultural legacies programme. These works will also be for sale, giving visitors the chance to not only see art, but to enjoy it in their homes or gift to friends and family.

The main display features artists such as Michelle Williams-Gamaker, Roxy Topia and Paddy Gould, Babak Ganjei, Tess Gilmartin, Joshua Clague and more. This end of year display is also an opportunity to reflect back on a year that has explored who artists are, how the future will be shaped, and how we might connect with our histories.

A new archive display titled Tomorrow’s Music Yesterday will open in the Bluecoat’s upstairs gallery. The display will include posters reflecting on some of the music presented at the Bluecoat over the decades, with a focus on the experimental and eclectic, including jazz, improvised, electronic, ‘world’ and contemporary classical from the likes of the Philip Glass Ensemble, John Zorn, Pierre Henry, Carla Bley, Imrat Khan and Philip Jeck. Opening on Friday 15th November.

The Bluecoat’s garden will be host to a new festive themed art trail from Blue Room, the Bluecoat’s inclusive arts programme for learning disabled and neurodivergent artists. Room artists have created a mischievous troupe of gingerbread characters inspired by Kayleigh Murray’s Gingerbread Party design for LUSH’s festive gift collection. From Saturday 30th November.

Festive Lunches and Christmas Workshops

The Bluecoat’s upstairs restaurant will be open for festive lunches during the Christmas period. Friends, families, and colleagues can book a table for a two course Christmas meal for just £26pp, prepared by the Bluecoat’s talented new Head Chef. Vegetarian and gluten free options available. Visit www.thebluecoat.org.uk to see the full menu.

Following on from a highly popular Autumn wreath making workshop, professional up-cycler and Channel 4 personality Gemma Longworth will be hosting a Festive Wreath Making workshop on Sunday 24th November.

Movema and the Bluecoat’s partnership event ‘Makers and Shakers’ is back with a Creative Christmas Disco and Christmas decoration making workshop on Sunday 1st December.

Full list of the Bluecoat’s Christmas events below:

Tomorrow’s Music Yesterday
From Fri 15 Nov

Gingerbread Party People Trail by Blue Room
From Sat 30 Nov

The Year That Was
Tue 3 – Sat 21 Dec

Winter Markets

Bluecoat Arts Market
Sat 7 Dec, 11am-4pm. Free entry
Find the perfect gift or treat yourself to a new piece of art, created by members from our creative community.

Bloom Makers Market
Sat 14 & Sun 15 Dec, 11am-4pm. Free entry

Still Out-of-Print Book Fair
Fri 20 & Sat 21 Dec, 11am-5pm. Free entry
Browse unique second hand and antique books to find the perfect Christmas present for the book lover in your life.

Workshops and other events

Mindful Glow: Candlelit Sound Bath Meditation
Sat 23 Nov, 10am, 12pm, 1.30pm and 3pm
Tickets: from £25.95
Experience the powerful revitalising effects of sound bath therapy and meditation to reset your mind and body.

Festive Wreath Making
Sun 24 Nov, 1-3pm
£48, all materials included
Get into the festive spirit and create your very own seasonal wreath using fresh foliage and decorations.

Collage Christmas Cards
Thu 28 Nov, 6-7.30pm
Tickets: £3.50
Join us for a festive and creative session where you can personalise your own sustainable Christmas cards through collage.

Christmas Print Party
Sat 30 Nov , 11am – 12.30pm
For ages 4+ £15 per child, adults go free.
Get creative this festive season in this family friendly printmaking session. Children and their grown ups will create a pack of Christmas cards and make beautiful monoprinted decorations for your tree.

Makers + Shakers: A Creative Christmas Disco
Sun 1 Dec, 2 – 3.30pm
£15 per child | £26 for a 2 child bundle | Adults, carers and crawlers go free
Bring the whole family for a festive session of moving, making, and shaking. Create Christmas decorations with Bluecoat, and follow Santa’s trail around the globe in a joyful dance session led by artists from Movema.

Intro to Photopolymer Etching
Sat 8 Dec, 11am – 5pm
Tickets: £85
This exciting one-day course will take you through the digital and analogue process of making small edition, low toxic photogravure prints.

Intro to UV Screen Printing
Sat 9 Dec, 11am – 5pm
Tickets: £70