Gallery and Studios
Bringing Art to the Heart of South Derbyshire
Creative Melbourne Gallery & Studios are the home of Melbourne Festival
The Gallery opened in Spring 2022 to support regional artists as we emerged from the pandemic and many events were still cancelled. The Gallery features a collection of work created by Artists and Makers from the Midlands, many of whom have exhibited at Melbourne Festival. Our exhibitions change each month. All works are for sale.
The Gallery also has three studios for Resident Artists, “Spaces to Create”, a mentored creative space for emerging artists, and space for Creative Workshops which can also be hired for events.
We look forward to meeting you at Wellington House, Church Street, DE73 8EJ, just off Melbourne Market Place. The Gallery is open Wednesday - Saturday from 10am - 4pm
Drop into the new Exhibition at Creative Melbourne Gallery
ANTHOLOGY
Our current exhibition ANTHOLOGY features an extraordinary collection of original artwork - paintings, prints and mixed media works by an impressive line-up of artists, whose work includes a collection of stunning images to bring light & bright and cool & calm pieces inspired by the many shades of Summer to brighten up your home.
ANTHOLOGY features contemporary botanical paintings by Vivienne Cawson, Amanda Hughes bold birds & floral images inspired by the changing colours in the landscape near their home, linocuts by Rachel Wilcock, contemporary cutwork by Zaza Lewis alongside cool coastal paintings by Steve McLoughlin and Peter Watson and a selection of mixed media work and spoons by Christina Williams. 3d work includes quirky sculpted ceramic characters by Anna Binns, ceramics by Mary Johnson and Helen Butler.
ANTHOLOGY opens on 4th June and continues until 19th July. We guarantee a warm welcome and a great selection of original work, prints and cards. In addition to our featured artists don’t miss the stunning work by our studio artists Sujata Aten, Michelle Holmes and Patrick Twiss-Prentice.
Open Wednesday - Saturday 10am to 4pm until 17th May
We look forward to seeing you at Creative Melbourne, Church Street DE73 8EJ soon!
Creative Melbourne is at the top of Church Street, just off Melbourne Market Place so why not make a day of it - visit the gallery, the fabulous independent shops and cafes in the Market Place and pop down the hill to Melbourne Pool and see Melbourne Hall and the 900 year old Melbourne Parish Church, parking is free so no need to hurry home!
Artists’ Studios
Creative Melbourne opened in January 2022 as a Gallery with studio space for artists & makers and to create a hub for creative industries in South Derbyshire.
Our three Studio Artists, Sujata Aten, Michelle Holmes and Patrick Twiss-Prentice. are a key part of our creative community. Follow the links to their websites and check back soon to visit their mini-pages to find out more.
Gallery Workshops
Creative Melbourne aims to bring the best of the Creative and Performing Arts to Melbourne and South Derbyshire.
In addition to the professional artists exhibiting each year on the Melbourne Festival Art & Architecture Trail and in Creative Melbourne Gallery, we have a deep commitment to arranging Creative Workshops for adults, young people and children.
Community Workshops
It’s time to head out, catch up with old friends and make some new ones while enjoying making something special in FREE workshops led by some of MELBOURNE FESTIVAL’s favourite artists!
The FREE taster workshops are for everyone from under 5’s to under 95’s book a space and come and join in!
All materials are provided just book a space bring yourself!
In 2024 BLOSSOMING, our Summer workshop programme and BEARING FRUIT our Autumn programme were funded by an ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND National Lottery Project Grant and by Grants from Foundation Derbyshire and Melbourne Community Care.
Spaces to Create - Phase 2
Creative Melbourne Gallery and Studio launched Spaces to Create, a new mentored artist development programme, in October 2023 with the aim of promoting the creative industries in South Derbyshire by supporting creatives to become self-sustaining small businesses; phase 1 of the programme ended in May 2024. We have now launched Phase 2 Applications.
We are currently recruiting our next group of artists in April 2025; this opportunity is not solely for visual artists; our 2023/ 2024 artists included a poet, digital creative, and a photographer. Spaces to Create is open to creative people who can utilise the hotdesking space and benefit from supported development.
The six artists who participated in the Pilot Project took up hotdesking residence in our newly launched space above the Gallery.
Spaces to Create aims to promote the creative industries in South Derbyshire by supporting creatives in becoming self-sustaining small businesses. Please contact us at info@melbournefestival.co.uk if you would like to find out more!
This opportunity is not solely for visual artists, you could be a writer, digital creative, photographer, game designer or producer, we are open to creative people who can utilise the hotdesking space and benefit from supported development.
We would like to thank South Derbyshire District Council for their support for Spaces to Create.
Artists @ Creative Melbourne
Creative Melbourne is strongly committed to supporting artists. To find out more about Artists @ Creative Melbourne please follow the link below or contact us to join our mailing list for artists.
Join Our Team
The day to day operations of Creative Melbourne Gallery and Melbourne Festival are carried out by an AMAZING team of volunteers some of whom we have worked with since the first Festival in 2005.
If you would like to find out more about joining our team of volunteers please get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you!