Junction arts

Immersive light show returns to Bolsover Castle

Bright Winter Nights will return to Bolsover Castle this November, illuminating the town’s iconic landmark and featuring a newly commissioned interactive digital art installation.

The immersive light experience was launched in 2023 by Junction Arts to mark the 30th anniversary of the lantern parade. This year, the event promises to be bigger and better, with three new light installations, co-created with the local community and specialist artists.

Bolsover Castle will once again come to life with live projections, images and sounds, celebrating local people, technology and art.

The centrepiece for this year’s Bright Winter Nights has been commissioned by the Bolsover Place Board and will feature a dazzling, interactive installation. It will be created in collaboration with Derbyshire storytellers Babbling Vagabonds, video projection artists Illuminos and young people in Bolsover.

The numerous light displays will feature a diverse range of voices, including an installation co-created by the LGBTQIA+ community via a national partnership with Dreamy Place, who stage festivals in Brighton and Crawley.

Participants from the PlatformThirty1 project ‘Know Your Neighbourhood’ will also see their work featured in Bright Winter Nights. The project is a creative community project designed to increase opportunities for connection for individuals and reduce loneliness. Through creative workshops in communal spaces, participants have explored a wide range of art forms, including painting, crochet, collage and embroidery.

Kylie North, Project Manager at Junction Arts said: “Bright Winter Nights is back, with more lights, more projections, more community involvement and more chances to engage with the artworks.

We’re excited to be working in partnership with so many great organisations to bring together one amazing event that will mark the start of the festive season. Every piece of content at Bright Winter Nights has been co-created by the community, working with professional artists – representing voices from all parts of Bolsover.”

“The concept of the event is the same as last year, but all the content is new for 2024, with more interactive elements for visitors to explore, immerse themselves in and enjoy. There’ll also be plenty of surprises, we can’t wait for people to come along and experience it.”

Nikki Waters, Bolsover Place Board member and General Manager of Hardwick Estate & Stainsby Mill said: “Bright Winter Nights is such a special and important event in the heart of Bolsover. It’s incredibly exciting that it is back for 2024, bigger and better than before. It will showcase the very best of what the district has to offer and will both attract visitors to the town and provide an important moment for local residents to come together and celebrate the place where they live and work. Bolsover is a thriving and dynamic place with so much to offer, and Bright Winter Nights celebrates and showcases the town and wider district at its very best.”

Joel Wileman from Bolsover Castle said: “At English Heritage, we’re striving to make new connections with the community through heritage and tell everyone’s story. Bright Winter Nights and Junction Arts’ wider work fits perfectly with this vision.

“Last year’s event was a sell-out, so we’re delighted to extend the ticket allocation to 1,000 for 2024, which promises to be a spectacular event. The Castle was built by William Cavendish for impressive celebrations and Bright Winter Nights will continue this trend in style.”

Junction Arts is organising the event in partnership with English Heritage and arts organisations Platform Thirty1, and videoclub. Bright Winter Nights is funded by Arts Council England and Bolsover District Council.

Tickets are the same price as last year, £2 per child and £3 for adults and are available to buy now: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/whats-on/bright-winter-nights-29-nov-24/

Bright Winter Nights, The Bolsover Christmas Market and the Bolsover Lantern Parade are all part of the Bolsover Winter Festival – a weekend of festive fun that will take place on the 29th and 30th of November.

Looking for things to do with the family in Chesterfield? Check out our events page to find out more: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/events/

Junction Arts supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Bolsover Castle lit up in immersive colours

 

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Tapton Lock Festival to return for a special one-day event

Organisers have confirmed that the Tapton Lock Festival will return next month for a special one-day event. The Tapton Lock Mini is a capsule festival that will take place on Sunday 8th September.

In April, Chesterfield-based arts charity, Junction Arts, announced that due to unforeseen circumstances, they would not be able to stage the full weekend event this year, but the organisation was keen to do something on a smaller scale for their loyal visitors to enjoy.

Project Manager, Jane Wells said. “We’re excited to present Tapton Mini for 2024! The event is small, but perfectly formed, visitors will can enjoy a trip on a narrowboat, try the ever-popular ‘Have a Go’ canoes or take part in two artist-led creative workshops and make something beautiful to take home.

“Junction Arts is also very excited to present our newly commissioned theatre piece, The Journey from Here to Now, which includes contributions from children and young people in and around Chesterfield! Adverse Camber, an independent storytelling company has created a unique and brand new promenade performance. There will be three shows throughout the day for visitors to watch, walk with or participate in!

“Junction Arts would like to reassure Tapton fans that we are already working hard planning next year’s event which will be better than ever! There will be all the things you’ve grown to love as well as some sensational new additions.”

The Tapton Lock Festival was launched in partnership with Derbyshire County Council in 2013 and became a much-loved family festival, taking place along the Chesterfield Canal near the Tapton Lock Visitor Centre every September.

Tapton Lock Mini will take place on Sunday 8th September, from 10am until 4pm around Tapton Lock Visitor Centre, all activities are free and people of all ages are invited to get involved.

Looking for things to do or places to visit in Chesterfield? Head over to our visiting pages to find out more about shops, bars, restaurants, events, attractions and more!

Junction Arts supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Woman dancing and clapping while another woman plays violin

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Champions show support for Chesterfield community with latest initiatives

Businesses across Chesterfield continue to get involved in supporting the local community with a range of initiatives to support people across the area.

Ann Fomukong-Boden, Destination Chesterfield Board Member commented: “Chesterfield Champions are proud to support our vibrant community, and it is great to see businesses playing their part to help others through a wide range of initiatives.

“Our town is a great place to work and live, and one of the main things that makes Chesterfield unique is the closeness of its community.

“It is great to see Champions continuing this trend by supporting local people and charities, alongside raising the profile of our area.”

Find out more about how our organisations are working to improve the lives of our residents and strengthen ties with our charities, voluntary organisations and wider community in our latest roundup below.

Spire Radio relaunches ‘Chesterfield Chat’ show to celebrate the town

Spire Radio Jordan and Eva

Spire Radio has announced the relaunch of its community centred local show, Chesterfield Chat. The program returns now hosted by Jordan Hartshorne and produced by Eva Charkiewicz who are both passionate about celebrating the heart and soul of Chesterfield.

Chesterfield Chat provides a platform for local businesses, community groups, charities, and artists to connect with listeners and share their stories.

The relaunched show promises to build on this tradition while offering a fresh perspective and engaging format. Listeners can also expect lively discussions on local news and upcoming events that matter most to the people of Chesterfield.

Each week, Chesterfield Chat will feature a dynamic mix of guests, including:

  • Local business owners discussing their latest ventures and experiences of trading in Chesterfield.
  • Representatives from community groups and charities sharing their important work and fundraising efforts.
  • Local artists, musicians, and performers showcasing their talents, with some liver performances.
  • A roundup of the mustn’t-miss events around Chesterfield in the week ahead.

Spire Radio welcomes all members of the community to tune in to Chesterfield Chat every Tuesday evening at 6pm. Listen live on spire-radio.com, on the TuneIn Apps for iPhone, Android and Smart TV or Ask Alexa to Play Spire Radio from TuneIn.

Whether you’re a local business owner, a charity worker, or simply a resident who loves your town, Chesterfield Chat is a platform for your voice to be heard. For more information about Chesterfield Chat or if you’d like to feature on the show, email eva@spire-radio.com or message the station on Instagram.

DBCP to sponsor popular Chesterfield Children’s Festival

Chesterfield Childrens Festival promotional photo - three people holding up banner

DBCP is sponsoring this year’s Chesterfield Children’s Festival –a free family event organised by local charity Junction Arts.

The Junction Arts event is funded by Arts Council England and was launched in 2023, attracting over 8,000 visitors.  The two-day festival celebrates the joy of childhood, imagination and play and features free cultural activities and entertainment for children of all ages to enjoy.

This year, the event will be held on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th of July in Queen’s Park, Chesterfield.  New acts for 2024 include an immersive live movie set experience, an interactive family catwalk show, virtual reality swings, an aerial workshop for babies and family life drawing!   There’ll also be art workshops, circus skills, storytelling, live music, face painting, theatre, and dance.

Chesterfield-based DBCP, which is the recommended provider of building control services in Derbyshire, Is the headline sponsor at the event, donating £4,000 to the charity.  The extra funds will go towards an arts commission that will see musicians and storytellers work with local young people to create a new piece of music that will be performed at the festival.

Junction Arts Coordinator Jemma Burton said: “We’d like to say a massive thank you to DBCP and welcome them as sponsors of this year’s Children’s Festival.  Junction Arts is a charity, we rely on corporate donations and sponsorship to ensure that our events and festivals are free and accessible to as many people as possible, this generous support from DBCP helps us to widen our reach and allows the festival to have much more impact in the community.”

Looking forward to the event David Pratt, DBCP’s Building Control Manager, said: “We are delighted to sponsor Chesterfield Children’s Festival this year. Many of the DBCP team and their families live in and around the area, so for us to be involved with this fantastic event in our community gives us all a real feeling of pride.”

For more information about the Chesterfield Children’s Festival visit: junctionarts.org.

Popular TV and comedy star launches new series of Ashgate Hospice grief podcast

ED BYRNE image stood against a wall smiling

Image by Roslyn Gaunt

Television and comedy star Ed Byrne recently appeared in the newest series of Ashgate Hospice’s podcast, which explores frank and honest conversations about life, death and grief.

Ed, known for appearing on panel shows like 8 Out of 10 Cats and his stand-up comedy, was interviewed for the first episode of The Life and Death Podcast.

It comes amidst the world tour of his show Tragedy Plus Time, inspired by the bereavement he faced following the death of his younger brother.

Ed sat down with podcast host Stephen Rumford ahead of his show in Buxton to discuss his career, his brother’s life and the success of the critically acclaimed show.

The first episode of the fifth series, featuring Ed, launched on 6th May as part of Dying Matters Awareness Week.

Episodes featuring other death and grief experts and commentators will go live every fortnight.

Stephen Rumford, host of The Life and Death Podcast and Senior Physiotherapist at Ashgate Hospice, said: “I don’t think we could have imagined that when we started back in 2020, we’d go on to launch five series of the podcast.

“This time, we’ve expanded our range topics and guests, and our six latest guests are a wonderful addition to the growing resource that the podcast represents.

“From a candid conversation with Ed Byrne to an insightful discussion with TikTok’s ‘Hospice Nurse Julie’, we have a wide range of guests offering differing expertise. You’re sure to learn something new with each episode.

“We hope the podcast provides a useful resource to anyone who is bereaved and people who might be curious about the subject.

“I hope all of our listeners enjoy the considered opinions of our guests as they share their unique experiences with us.”

In the podcast seasons so far, Stephen speaks with writers, doctors and people who have experienced end of life care to discuss their unique relationships, hospice life, and how death affects the living.

In the latest series, Dr. Katie Lawlor, an animal bereavement expert and pet loss psychologist based in San Francisco, California, joins as one of the guests.

She was training to be a clinical psychologist before she realised there was very little, if any, support networks for people suffering following the death of a pet.

Others include Dr Julie McFadden, known to millions on social media as ‘Hospice Nurse Julie’; she cares for palliative and end of life patients and uses TikTok to address some of death’s biggest misconceptions.

The Natural Death Centre’s Josefine Speyer, author of Modern Loss, Rebeca Soffer, and renowned philosopher Simon Critchley will also feature in the new season.

Episodes will be released on Mondays every fortnight from 6th May! You can listen to episodes from all five series of The Life and Death Podcast online or by searching for ‘Ashgate Hospice’ on all streaming platforms.

Veezu supports Cash for Kids charity

eezu supports Cash for Kids’ Holiday Hunger appeal - group of people holding large cheque

Veezu, a private hire operator covering Chesterfield and South Yorkshire, has donated £500 to the local arm of Cash for Kids in support of Cash for Kids Day on 2 May.

The donation was made through Funded by Veezu, an initiative in which local charities and sports teams can apply for funding and grants, set up to improve the communities in which Veezu operates.

Cash for Kids supports children and young people affected by poverty, abuse, neglect, life-limiting illness, and those with additional needs. Based across 22 areas in the UK, Cash for Kids is a grant giving charity that helps community groups, charitable organisations, schools and individual cases. The latest figures from the End Child Poverty Coalition show that 1 in 3 local children are living in poverty and, in some areas, it is as high as 36%.

2 May marked Cash for Kids Day, where organisations came together to raise as much as possible for the cause, with a particular focus on combating holiday hunger to make sure all children have access to a hot meal during the holidays.

Veezu has donated £500 from its regional areas of Birmingham, Cardiff, Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield and Portsmouth, bringing the total donation to £3000. According to statistics given by Cash for Kids, it’s predicted that £3000 will help 60 children in need.

Lisa Sullivan, Charity Manager at Cash for Kids North, West and South Yorkshire and Derbyshire, said: “We are so grateful to Veezu for supporting us across the UK in six regions for Cash for Kids Day. For the passengers of Veezu, they can feel confident in their choice, as they will be helping disadvantaged children access activities and food during the school holidays. For many children it will be their only daily meal. The generosity of companies like Veezu, as well as donations from the general public, help us help children that need it the most.”

Sacha Skinner, Regional Marketing Manager at Veezu, said: “We are delighted to be able to support Cash for Kids once again. All children deserve access to a hot meal, whether it’s the holidays or not, and we are glad to donate what we can and make a difference to children living in poverty.”

BusinessWise Accountancy & Tax welcomes Brookfield School pupil for work experience

oliver businesswise work experience

A Chesterfield business has continued its commitment towards supporting our young people with careers, by hosting a pupil for a week of work experience.

BusinessWise Accountancy and Tax welcomed Oliver to their organisation for a week of hands-on learning about what a career in Chesterfield’s financial sector would look like.

Looking for skills support in Chesterfield for your business? Go to our Skills and Training page to find out more.

The businesses featured in this article support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

 

 

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Project showcases young artists in Chesterfield

Young artists in Chesterfield staged a new art exhibition, as part of the Junction Arts project Next Gen, which helps young people launch creative careers.

The exhibition, entitled Self Expression, was on display at West Studios from the 25th to the 28th of March and featured over 30 artworks. The collection included portraits, postcard art, spray paint murals, illustrations, and pottery.

The group of eight aged between 16-25 years, have been working together for the last five months to create their debut exhibition, showcasing the artworks they have created during Next Gen workshops.

The group were given the challenge of choosing the theme, creating the marketing, curating the exhibition and organising a private view event themselves. The four-day event attracted many visitors and positive comments including. “Great to see young people expressing themselves through art. Lots of fresh ideas, keep at it. It will enrich your life and the lives of those who see it.” “Exciting artworks on show! What will these artists do next?!”

Next Gen is a Junction Arts project that has been running as part of a wider ‘POV’ project since June 2022 and is delivered in partnership with Bassetlaw CVS, Rhubarb Farm, Centre Place, Bassetlaw Action Centre, Inspire, Voluntary Action Doncaster, South Yorkshire Community Foundation. There have been similar projects delivered across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and South Yorkshire to include the point of view of young people in volunteering and open up voluntary organisations to 16-24-year-olds.

The project was funded by Arts Council England Volunteering Futures fund and aimed to encourage young people to volunteer through the arts.

Based on the group’s interests, Junction Arts runs a fortnightly creative session, working with different artists to give the young people an opportunity to be creative, meet people with similar interests and learn from professionals. Sessions have included portraits, spray painting, pottery, sign-writing and architectural design!

Next Gen Project Coordinator, Jemma Burton said: “I have been so impressed by the work that our Next Gen group have created, so to see it all in one place at the Self Expression Exhibition was a proud moment for them, their families and for Junction Arts!

“The exhibition celebrated the young people’s artwork and provided a platform for their voice. None of the young people had been part of a public art exhibition before or had been involved in organising one – so it was a lot of hard work and a bit of a learning curve, but they all did an amazing job.

“Next Gen aims to give young people an insight into different creative careers, help them to develop new skills, grow their confidence and make useful connections. The project will continue, with the group running their own sessions, supported by us. Anyone aged 16-25 years is welcome to join the group, please get in touch!”

If you would like to be part of Next Gen contact; jemma@junctionarts.org.

Junction Arts supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Junction Arts self expression exhibition participants

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Chesterfield Children’s Festival set to welcome families for more fun in Queen’s Park this July

Organisers have confirmed that the Chesterfield Children’s Festival will return to Queen’s Park on the 27th and 28th of July.

This year’s event is being organised with the help of local young people and will include live movie sets, catwalks, an aerial workshop for babies and family life drawing!

The free event organised by Junction Arts and funded by Arts Council England, is a two-day festival for families that celebrates the joy of childhood, imagination and play.

Last year over 8,000 families attended the event, with over 4,000 children participating in the activities, which ranged from yoga classes to tie-dye workshops! Other highlights of the weekend included live music, comedy for kids, silent disco walking tours, theatre, Chinese storytelling and actual reality arcade games. The event attracted thousands of tourists from outside of the town, bringing over 3,500 people into Chesterfield.

New for 2024 is the Project Producers; a group of volunteers aged between 15-20 years of age that are advising and helping to plan the festival alongside Junction Arts. The group was formed earlier this year, and the idea is to give young people in Chesterfield an opportunity to have their say and develop some event planning skills.

This year’s event will take place on the first weekend of the summer holidays, 10 am – 4 pm each day. The festival is completely free, no booking is required, and visitors can turn up on the day to enjoy the activities.

The full festival line-up will be announced in June but acts confirmed so far include; Block Buster Factory, an award-winning immersive street show, where members of the public get to be part of a live movie set! There will also be an interactive family catwalk, family life drawing workshops and Take Flight – an aerial workshop for babies and their grown-ups!

To make the festival more accessible, Junction Arts has enlisted the help of RevoLOOtion, which provides mobile vehicles that enable disabled children and adults to use the toilet or be changed with dignity and respect, the RevoLOOtion service helps to break down barriers that often exclude them from participating in activities and events.

Jemma Burton, Project Coordinator from Junction Arts said: “We had an amazing response to the festival last year and I’m delighted that we are bringing it back to Chesterfield this summer. We’re also excited to have our Project Producers working with us this year, the group of young people are helping us to shape the festival by sharing their thoughts and experiences, as well as volunteering to plan and manage parts of the event. It’s great to have some youthful energy and creativity in the team!

“The full line-up is still being worked on, but I can say that we’ll have lots of creative activities for children of all ages to get involved in, plus some amazing live entertainment – we can’t wait to see you there.”

For further information visit: www.junctionarts.org or follow @junctionartuk on social media.

Find out more about fabulous family events coming soon to Chesterfield at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/events/

Junction Arts supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Chesterfield Childrens Festival 2023 web (44 of 100)

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Budding Chesterfield artists invited to submit their creations for the Chesterfield Postcard Show

Chesterfield’s annual exhibition of mini masterpieces is back for 2024, and residents across the area are being invited to take part.

This year’s Chesterfield Postcard Show is entitled ‘Memories Are Made of This” and will take place between the 7th and 17th of May at West Studios. Artists of all abilities are invited to be part of the exciting exhibition. All you need to do is submit a postcard-size piece of art by the 24th of April 2024.

Organised by Junction Arts and local artist Dave Elsom, the event celebrates the importance of getting creative and its impact on people’s self-esteem and well-being. Last year 173 artists submitted their works with 329 pieces of original art on display, raising over £1,200.

Hannah Bowdler, Fundraising Coordinator at Junction Arts said: “We believe that everyone should have access to art. The Chesterfield Postcard Shows provides a free exhibition of marvellous miniature artworks for local people to enjoy, a space for new artists to exhibit and showcase their talent, plus people can buy an original piece of art for just £10.

“This is the third year of the show, and we’d like to see more people get involved. It’s open to people of all ages and abilities to take part, and every postcard that is sent to us will feature in the show. Your postcard can be whatever you want it to be, a painting, a photograph, digital artwork, you can use whatever material you like, as long as it’s A6 size and is based on the theme of Memories Are Made of This.”

The original pieces will be available to buy during the exhibition to raise money to support local arts charity Junction Arts and their work within the community. Local businesses are also being invited to support the event, businesses requiring more information can contact hannah@junctionarts.org.

Submissions should be created on A6 card, not paper, and sent to The Chesterfield Postcard Show, Junction Arts, West Studios Sheffield Road, Chesterfield S41 7LL by the 24th of April 2024. If participants need a card, they can send a message to Hannah@junctionarts.org to request a blank card to be sent to them.

Junction Arts supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Chesterfield Postcard show

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New warm space with a creative twist opens in Chesterfield

Residents in Chesterfield can benefit from a new warm place in the town, where they can sit, enjoy complimentary refreshments and get involved in craft activities.

Cosy Crafts is being launched by Junction Arts, in partnership with Derbyshire County Council.

The warm space will run every Wednesday between 2 pm and 4 pm at West Studios on Sheffield Road. The project is for people of all ages and is part of the Warm Spaces network, a UK-wide initiative that aims to help people during the cost-of-living crisis.

Warm spaces are free places where people can relax, have a drink, access free Wifi, meet people and join in activities. The aim is to combat loneliness and improve wellbeing while signposting people to practical help if they need it.

Cosy Crafts will have a different craft activity each week that visitors can get involved in, including Indian Block Printing, Card and Gift Bag workshop, Tissue Paper Flower Making and Glass Engraving.

Jane Wells, Project Coordinator at Junction Arts said: “Last year we visited a few local warm spaces, taking with us some simple craft activities. We saw how important these spaces were to people and how the crafts helped people to interact with each other. So, we decided to create our own warm space, with some added creativity. But if people just want to come and enjoy a warm drink, that’s fine too, you don’t have to get crafty!

“The warm space is in the reception area at West Studios, it’s a lovely bright space, with colourful artwork on the walls, that we hope will inspire people. We’re looking forward to welcoming people of all ages in the next few weeks.”

The free warm space will start on February 7th and run every Wednesday from 2 pm until 4 pm, visitors can just turn up, there’s no need to book in advance. For more information call or email Junction Arts: info@junctionarts.org or 01246 209 219.

Junction Arts supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Junction Arts warm space cosy crafts

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Junction Arts celebrates 30 years of the Bolsover Lantern Parade

Junction Arts has celebrated hosting the 30th Bolsover Lantern Parade, an event that continues to bring light, people, and a strong community spirit to the town.

Hundreds of people joined the parade last weekend with their lanterns and thousands more lined the streets to see one of the UK’s biggest and longest-running light processions.

Following a month of lantern-making workshops in the community and local schools, just under 400 lanterns were made for the parade.

Among the hundreds of creations, there was a giant gingerbread man, Buddy the Elf, an astronaut, Father Christmas, a dragon, an aeroplane, and a huge Buzz Lightyear.

Several smaller lanterns reflected the history of the parade, with traditional miner’s lamps and stars, that were used in the very first parade.

The parade marked the finale of the Bolsover Winter Festival, a weekend of festive fun, which included a new light show at Bolsover Castle and a traditional Christmas market, that contained 130 stalls.

The event is organised by Chesterfield-based charity, Junction Arts, in partnership with Old Bolsover Town Council, English Heritage and other community partners.  It has become a much-loved, cultural tradition for generations of people.

Junction Arts Managing Director, Emily Bowman said: “Lantern Parades are a symbol of creativity, celebration, and community. Reaching 30 years of the Bolsover Lantern Parade is a wonderful achievement for the town.

“This year’s parade did feel extra special as we reflected on the last three decades and the positive impact that it has had on the town. Thank you to everyone who made a lantern, or came along on the night to watch, in freezing temperatures, you are what makes this event so special, see you next year!”

Find out more about the festive fun taking place across Chesterfield this Christmas.

Junction Arts supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Junction Arts Bolsover Lantern Parade

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Junction Arts unveils new art installation in Chesterfield town centre

A new art installation has been unveiled at Elder Way in Chesterfield town centre this week, created by artist Lucie Maycock to shine a light on community arts in Chesterfield and raise awareness of local charity, Junction Arts.

Jomast, the company which has developed the former Co-op department store building on Elder Way, commissioned the piece to bring colour and light to the building this winter, creating a point of interest while telling the story of Junction Arts and the work they do in the community.

The artwork can be seen in the window of one of the new units in the Elder Way building.

Entitled ‘We are all artists and creators’, the artwork includes original illustrations, which frame a stunning collection of lanterns that have been made by the local community over the last three decades, for the annual Bolsover Lantern Parade. People can see the display in the window located opposite the Co-op Bank, which is best viewed in the evening when the lanterns are lit up – over 7000 lights have been used to bring the artwork to life.

The window was designed by Chesterfield artist and Junction Arts board member Lucie Maycock, who has a personal connection to the building. Lucie’s Mother, Karen Maycock was the Display Supervisor for the Co-op, dressing the windows at the old department store for over 30 years before it closed. Karen has been on hand to help Lucie with the design, revisiting her old place of work to ensure that the window display is perfect.

Lucie said: “When Junction Arts asked me to create the window display on Elder Way in the old Co-op building, I was excited by the idea. Not just about the project itself but the link to my Mum and her career as a window dresser in the same building. I grew up seeing my Mum in the windows of this beautiful department store, I remember walking home from school via town to see if I could see her and knock on the window to say hi and show all my friends that this is what she did as a job.

“I asked my Mum if she wanted to help create the arrangements for the window display. She was really excited about going back there and helping me to make the fabulous creation come to life. I am so lucky to have her skills and expertise to help execute this project, it’s a real privilege.

“Drawing onto the window was a wonderful experience. I kept imagining that this was how my Mum would have felt for all those years she spent at the Co-op. As people walked by, they were so friendly, saying hi, asking what I was doing and generally being wonderful. I felt emotionally connected to the artwork, space and purpose of this project.

“Doing this window for Junction Arts was a pleasure and I feel privileged to be promoting my passion for community arts whilst working with my Mum, and being able to put myself in the same place she did so many times.”

Junction Arts is an award-winning participatory arts charity, that was established in 1976 to develop and deliver engaging arts experiences within disadvantaged areas, to improve wellbeing, build confidence and skills, address inequality and inspire change. The local charity runs several projects throughout the year as well as organising events including The Chesterfield Children’s Festival, Tapton Lock Festival and Bolsover Lantern Parade.

Junction Arts Managing Director, Emily Bowman said: “Thank you to Jomast for giving us this opportunity to showcase community art in the town centre, it’s great to see the lanterns as the centrepiece to the design, as we are celebrating 30 years of the Bolsover Lantern Parade this year. We hope that Lucie and Karen’s amazing work will bring light and hope to people, inspiring them to get creative in their communities. The window perfectly reflects the work we do in Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire and I hope it encourages more people to engage with us in the future.”

Jomast’s Commercial Property Director Mark Hill said: “We’re all really excited by the artwork that Lucie is creating. Her link to the building’s former use as a Co-op department store is remarkable and we couldn’t think of anyone better placed to bring one of the new units to life with this stunning artwork. The lanterns really will shine a light on this beautiful building and its redevelopment.”

The artwork will be on display until spring 2024. For more information visit www.junctionarts.org or follow Junction Arts on social media @JunctionArtsUK.

Junction Arts and Elder Way Development support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

junction arts elder way window

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Spectacular new light show announced to mark 30 years of the Bolsover Lantern Parade

The Bolsover Lantern Parade is set to return for its 30th year, and a new light show is coming to Bolsover Castle to mark the milestone this December.

Bright Winter Nights is an immersive light experience that will take place within the castle’s walls on Friday 1st December, the day before the lantern parade. Light projections, images and sounds from the last three decades will bring the castle walls to life, featuring the stories of local people and their lantern parade experiences.

Visitors can also view a newly commissioned community film as part of the magical evening, which has been created using stories and memories from local people.

The event is being organised in partnership with local Bolsover-based charity, the Freedom Project and English Heritage.

There will be 750 tickets available, costing £2 per child and £3 for adults.

Emily Bowman, Managing Director at Junction Arts said: “Bolsover is very close to our hearts and so we’re delighted to be bringing another exciting event to the town, to mark the 30th year of the lantern parade.

“Bright Winter Nights promises to shine a light on the amazing community spirit and creativity that exists in Bolsover, telling the story of the last three decades within the walls of the famous Bolsover Castle.”

Mark North, Freedom Founder and CEO said: “The Lantern Parade has been an important part of our community for the last 30 years. It has given us a sense of togetherness and excitement and we look forward to Bright Winter Nights and taking in the memories of other members of the Bolsover Community and beyond”.

A spokesperson for Bolsover Castle said: “We always love playing a part in the Lantern Parade so when Junction Arts asked us to work with them to celebrate its 30th anniversary, we jumped at the chance. We want the Castle to be at the centre of the community in Bolsover, for residents to really connect with their heritage and to use the space to celebrate the amazing talent we have in the town.

“It will be a night to remember as the Castle comes to life not only with our fantastic illuminations but the creativity and passion of the Bolsover community.”

The first Bolsover Lantern Parade took place on Saturday 26th November 1994 as part of the Bolsover Victorian Festival. Organised by Junction Arts in partnership with community partners, the event has become a cultural tradition for generations of people. Growing year-on-year, the Bolsover Lantern Parade is now one of the UK’s biggest and oldest light parades.

Bright Winter Nights, The Bolsover Christmas Market and the Bolsover Lantern Parade are all part of the NEW Bolsover Winter Festival – a weekend of festive fun that marks the start of the winter season. More information about all the events taking place can be found on the Visit Bolsover website: https://www.visitbolsover.co.uk/events/bwf/

You can view the light show event listing here: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/events/bright-winter-nights-light-show/ and the lantern parade here: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/events/chesterfield-lantern-parade-2021/

To book tickets for the event: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/whats-on/bolsover-castle-bright-winter-nights-1-dec-23/

Find out more about the wide range of local events for all ages and interests taking place across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Junction Arts supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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Organisers celebrate record-breaking year for Tapton Lock Festival

Chesterfield’s Tapton Lock Festival celebrated a record-breaking attendance this month, with a host of new activities and performances for local families to enjoy.

Over 3,000 people attended the two-day festival at the Tapton Lock Visitor Centre, making it the most-attended year since it started in 2012.

The free annual event is organised by Junction Arts and Derbyshire County Council, bringing outdoor theatre, music and dance, arts and crafts workshops, stalls and activities to the banks of the Chesterfield Canal.  The aim is to encourage families and friends to come together to enjoy the outdoors and promote better health and well-being.

This year, visitors took part in a number of arts and crafts activities, music and dance workshops, ‘have a go’ canoes and boat rides.

Firm favourites, the bubbleologist, storytellers, circus skills and the climbing wall all returned, but there was also some new entertainment for 2023, which included performances from Bollywood dancers, African drummers, and the Babbling Vagabonds Magical Market Stall!

Visitors also tried their hand at Lego printing, clay sculpting, creating wire bubble wands and forest school activities.

tapton lock 2023 bubbles

Junction Arts Project Coordinator, Jane Wells said: “The Festival was a huge success and the nice weather encouraged even greater numbers this year!  We had a really varied programme, including amazing outdoor theatre from the Babbling Vagabond’s and their Wagon of Wonder, incredible performances by visitors of all ages who took part in Nisha Lall’s Bollywood dance workshops and lots of arts and crafts activities for people to take part in, and all for free.”

“We were also thrilled that visitors could experience the rich cultural heritage of Chesterfield with representation from the Chesterfield Asian Association, the African Caribbean Community Association, Polonia Chesterfield and Verba, the Ukrainian Social Group.  Lastly, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers who helped make this such a successful event and to all our funders and sponsors.”

Find out more about events and activities for the whole family taking place in Chesterfield at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/

Junction Arts supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

tapton lock festival 2023 families

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