Facilities & Recreation Committee – July 14th 2026
Spennymoor Town Council Facilities & Recreation Committee Order of Business - Meeting to be held July 14th 2026
The Gallery, operated by the Town Council, has launched a new “Maker Space” in Spennymoor Town Hall, which it hopes will quickly become a colourful creative community hub designed to inspire a love of art and creativity with people from across the area.
The Maker Space is open to everyone – from hobbyists to professional artists, families, schools, children, community groups and visiting artists-in-residence…in fact, anyone with an interest in making and creating – even if you’ve never tried it before.
Well stocked with a range of art materials, including paints, pencils, pens, paper and easels, it is a place where imagination can run free and artistic ideas can take shape.
As part of the Gallery, which is funded by the Town Council, the initiative is the brainchild of community and culture manager/curator, Debbie Connell.
She said: “This new creative space forms part of the Council’s ongoing investment in the arts and culture. Historically, Spennymoor is a town that has inspired artists, and we want that to continue.
“We want to make creativity and art accessible to everyone. The Bob Abley Art Gallery is at the heart of the town’s artistic life, and the Maker Space builds on that reputation by offering a flexible, practical environment for people to come together, experiment and learn.”
“We want to break down barriers –barriers to work, opportunity, training or creativity,” said Cllr Liz Maddison, Spennymoor Town Mayor. “This area is not just for talented established artists or students it’s for everyone who wants to give art a try. Whether you’re painting for the first time, writing creatively, refining skills or running a workshop, the Maker Space is here to help.”
The space will support visiting artists-in-residence, providing a well-stocked working environment while they develop new projects and engage with the public. By welcoming creatives to Spennymoor, the Council hopes to foster collaboration, exchange of ideas and create opportunities for artistic mentorship.
Artist, Jayne Blacklock, was first to try out the new addition to the Gallery. She said: “This is a great space to be creative and engage and have fun with art. The light is fantastic, it is well stocked with materials and who couldn’t fail to be inspired by the amazing work hanging around the Bob Abley Gallery?
“It is so important to have a location where youngsters and people can come and explore their creativity, hone their talent or just give art a try. I can’t wait to come back and maybe even do some classes here – Spennymoor Town Council must be applauded for its ongoing commitment to helping people access art and harnessing it to inspire people’s imaginations.”
Local schools and youth groups are being encouraged to make use of the space too. The art supplies mean pupils can access materials, while community groups will be able to host sessions and workshops in an inspiring setting at the heart of the town.
The Bob Abley Art Gallery already enjoys a strong reputation for showcasing local, regional and nationally renowned artists. With the addition of the Maker Space, it will now offer not just a venue for seeing art but also a hands-on environment for making.
The Maker Space will be open during the gallery’s normal opening hours, and enquiries about bookings for groups or workshops can be made via the Gallery office. Drop-in visitors are also welcome when the space is not pre-booked.
“This is about sparking creativity and giving people the tools and a warm, safe space they need to express themselves,” added Debbie. “We are excited to see how the community makes this space their own.”
