Chester Contemporary – What’s on this month

Chester Contemporary shows the work of international and Chester-based contemporary artists, including emerging artists plus a creative programme with communities and schools in the city.

The major new visual arts event is curated by Chester-born artist Ryan Gander.

There is a full programme of activities taking place in October and November that can be seen at:

http://www.chestercontemporary.org

Places can be booked at:

http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/chestercontemporary

(Children need to be accompanied by an adult to attend).

Councillor Lisa Denson, Cabinet Member for A Fairer Future, said:

“Following the launch last month, Chester Contemporary has caught the attention of many people as they discover the different artworks throughout the city.

“But there is much more, this weekend you can learn about print making in the Grosvenor Shopping Centre or drop into St Mary’s Creative Space for a celebration of art and food.

“Later this month join Donna Leishman in Grosvenor Park, and on the City Walls and artist Laura-Kate Draws who will be running two workshops in the Grosvenor Shopping Centre. There is also a walk and workshop with Wendy Connelly and poet Robin Bailey.

“Whilst the Grosvenor Museum has a series of lectures by Julia Midgley, James Dixon and Adrian Sumner.”                                                     

Friday 13 October – 3pm

Walking tour, of Chester Racecourse. 

Join Chris Clayton for a fascinating, hour’s walking tour, of Chester Racecourse.  Explore the history and stories which make it so special, from Roman harbour, through medieval football pitch and more. Book your free place at www.ticketsource.co.uk/chestercontemporary

Saturday 14 October - 10am, 11.15am, 12.45pm & 2pm

GROW! Art lab: For the love of print! with artist Laura-Kate Draws

Free 1-hour printmaking workshops at Chester Visual Arts, Grosvenor Shopping Centre. Make your own relief print stamp inspired by fruit and vegetables and have a go at screen printing! Book your free place at: www.ticketsource.co.uk/chestercontemporary

Saturday 14 October, 3pm / £2

Julia Midgley: Beneath the Surface, drawing from observation 

Grosvenor Museum. As a reportage or documentary artist and printmaker Julia Midgley’s work has taken her all over the country.  This talk will focus on work produced since the 1980’s which records excavations of Chester’s Roman Amphitheatre, objects and drawings found in the archives of Cheshire Records Office, training activities at The Cheshire Yeomanry, C Division, Fox Barracks, Chester, and the many objects recorded within “County Conundrum”. Book your place at: www.ticketsource.co.uk/chestercontemporary 

Sunday 15 October - 11am to 1pm & 2pm to 4pm at St Mary’s Creative Space

Heritage Harvest - Seasonal art & food celebration with Squash

Free event. Celebrate harvest time by joining in seasonal food and art making inspired by the rich heritage of Chester and the Rows. Make butter and pancakes, press your own apple juice and create art in our pop-up studio. Squash is a bold and ambitious, award-winning community organisation, rooted in Liverpool since 2010. Join the team of artists, gardeners and cooks for this special drop-in event, no need to book.

Thursday 19 October from 2pm to 5pm at Hobby’s Well

Create with artist Donna Leishman - Hope is a group project.

Join artist Donna Leishman to make a site-specific artwork at Hobby’s Well in Chester’s Grosvenor Park.  Together with Donna, you’ll use cloth and other materials to create an artwork on the railings of the well, exploring the site’s history, considering questions of ownership and experiencing the power of collective making as a way to reconnect with the past. Free drop-in event, suitable all ages, no need to book.

Friday 20 October from 2pm to 5pm at 14 City Walls (Wishing Steps)

Create with Donna Leishman - Impossible Steps

Help to transform the Wishing Steps, into a place of nocturnal wonder using an everyday symbol of success – the star sticker. Join Artist Donna Leishman to create a site-specific artwork. Create your own constellation, and as night falls it will glow. Free drop-in event, suitable for all ages, no need to book.

Thursday 26 October - 10am to 12 midday & 1pm to 3pm

GROW! Art lab: Build and Make! with artist Laura-Kate Draws

Free two hour workshops at Chester Visual Arts, Grosvenor Shopping Centre.  Celebrate fruit and vegetables inspired by the history of the Rows and its architecture in this 3D and sculptural workshop. Using a mix of pre-printed recycled cardboard and paper you’ll make and decorate your own mini 3D garden sheds or paper leaf sculptures. Book your free place at:

http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/chestercontemporary 

Friday 27 October - 10am to 1pm

Gateway: Creative walk and workshop

Join artist Wendy Connelly and poet UrbanHerne (poet Robin Bailey) from RAW-i Studio for a creative walk shaped by the landscape of the city - its waterways and captured history. £5, for 16+, book your place at: 

http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/chestercontemporary

Saturday 11 November, 2pm / £2

James Dixon: The Archaeology of Chester Contemporary

Grosvenor Museum. Chester Contemporary is not only taking place in Chester and inspired by Chester, it’s an active part of the city’s past, present and future.

This talk by archaeologist of public art Dr James Dixon will examine what Chester Contemporary’s works mean to the city and its story, using the perspective of a multi-temporal landscape archaeology.  British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation will be provided for this event.

Book your place at: www.ticketsource.co.uk/chestercontemporary 

Thursday 16 November, 3pm / £2

Adrian Sumner: Hidden Gems of Chester Architecture

Grosvenor Museum. Using the Grosvenor Museum's Topographical collection as inspiration and spotlighting the series of works commissioned from Contemporary Chester artists featured in Peter Boughton's celebrated book 'Picturesque Chester', this lecture explores the wide diversity of styles which have been used to describe and define both the modern life and the historical significance of 'Deva Cestris'. Book your place at www.ticketsource.co.uk/chestercontemporary

For the full programme visit:

http://chestercontemporary.org

The Chester Contemporary Engagement Programme is part of the Chester High Street Heritage Action Zone Programme, funded by Historic England and National Lottery Heritage Fund and supported by Arts Council England.

Chester Contemporary is part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Arts Council England and Henry Moore Foundation. 

This project is part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.

For more information, visit UK Shared Prosperity Fund: prospectus - visit: 

https//www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus