Events
Midsummer Dreaming - July 2019
A family friendly arts pop-up events, at Low Hall The Lakes near Cockermouth.
With music, theatre, arts and crafts all set with views over the Lorton Fells, Midsummer Dreaming offered families a space to slow down, reconnect, relax and have fun.
Supported by Arts Council England funding, attendees had a variety of stimulating and creative activities.
An authentic mini Colosseum provided the backdrop to ‘ROMANS!’ by Mufti Games, where participants played Gladiatorial ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’ to the death! These theatrical battles caused a megalithic stir with both laughter and drama. ROMANS! Rag Tag Arts were on hand to teach traditional circus skills from juggling to unicycling as well as entertaining audiences with walkabout stilt costumes and giant bubbles.
Children and adults alike got creative and designed their very own whimsical floral crowns using locally grown summer flowers and foliage. There was also the opportunity to make flying fish kites culminating in a parade towards the end of the day.
A Market of Makers showcased some of the county’s best crafts people, all selling their imaginative handmade gifts and keepsakes. The air was filled with acoustic music from The Sessionistas.
ART GYM 2023
Art Gyms are creative workshops for young people ages 11-18, where you can come and be creative either on your own or with others and aims to make creative activity accessible to all!
In an inclusive, relaxed, welcoming environment outside of school with guided activities as well as space for you to continue to develop your creative skills and
self-expression with support from professional artists.
Art Gyms include opportunities for both exploration and gaining new skills through projects that are fun, contemporary, surprising, challenging and even humorous and help to forget your self-consciousness for a while.
The sessions are guided by professional artists, Helen and Janice from Morgan and Murray Arts but you drive the narrative of your own sessions. Find out what makes you tick creatively, maybe get out of your comfort zones? Who knows where this could take you!
We hope to return with Art Gyms very soon!
We create high quality cultural experiences that are considered and thoughtful in their approach and connect people and place.
Our pop up events encourage local communities to gather and celebrate at important points throughout the year. Our events are as sustainable as possible and follow the Green Production Agreement.
Please take a look at our previous events and sign up to our mailing list to hear news about future events.
At Autumn's Mellowing - October 2019
At Autumn’s Mellowing was the second pop – up event by Handpicked Productions.
A seasonal celebration with stories and shadows, poems and posies, firelight, feasting and apples galore. Storyteller Ian Douglas and wordsmith Emma McGordon took guests through an afternoon of activity into an evening of warm conviviality.
Ian Douglas is a favourite of the storytelling circuit and fast becoming a national treasure! He kept everyone entertained with autumnal tales around the campfire!
Emma McGordon is an award winning Cumbrian performance poet and was commissioned to capture the magic of autumn in her very own unique style. She premiered new work celebrating nature and growth at the event.
Cumbria Orchard Group juiced apples and told us all about the work they do to conserve, promote and celebrate orchards in North Cumbria.