Directory: SPACES

     _GALLERIES:

::  Potteries Museum & Art Gallery - the main public gallery in the city. The Gallery features touring exhibitions & the best of Staffordshire arts & crafts. Also has a cinema, auditorium, cafe, shop, and rooms for children's workshop activities. Located in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent.

::  Burslem School of Art - now with the benefit of a £1.2m renovation, the historic School has several large curated galleries with a regular exhibition programme, studio spaces upstairs, plus office space & classrooms. Located in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent.

::   Conjunction AiR Space contemporary art gallery in Stoke-on-Trent.

::  Newcastle-under-Lyme Museum & Art Gallery - the main gallery for the town (aka 'The Brampton'), set in parkland a short walk from the town centre.

::  The New Victoria Theatre - uses its space and grounds to put on exhibitions of environment art & visual art.

::  Alsager Arts Centre - mostly puts on community theatre & modern dance, but they also have a gallery space. The Centre is on Manchester Metropolitan University's main arts campus, which is located just eight miles from Stoke-on-Trent.

::  Keele University Art Gallery - early each year Keele holds the Three Counties Open Photography show; an 'all-for-sale' prints exhibition, featuring the results of a competitive Open for local photographers in the counties of Staffordshire, Cheshire and Shropshire. Keele's campus is about five miles from Stoke-on-Trent.

::  The Country Gallery, a few miles south-west of Newcastle-under-Lyme. Featuring work by Derek Shapiro, Peter & Marie Graves, and Richard Simm.

::   Sackville House Gallery commercial gallery & shop - for a fine selection of contemporary art & crafts from local & national makers & artists.

::   Churnet Contemporary Arts - between Stoke and Leek. A commercial gallery specialising in contemporary British and European crafts & sculpture.

::   The Art Bay - in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent.

::   Nicholson Institute Art Gallery - in Leek.

::   benny browne & co - independent studio & commercial art gallery of contemporary artworks that "compliment stylish modern living". Based at Congleton.

::   Marina Designs - in Queen St., Burslem.

::   Wedgwood Museum - set to open in Spring 2007 at Barlaston, Stoke-on-Trent. The Museum Trust is currently raising the final £1.8m tranche of the total £9.5m cost. The Museum will showcase the fabulous & unique 8,000-peice complete Wedgwood collection, worth £100m, and may have some additional exhibition space for contemporary work.

 King Street Gallery - a commercial gallery for paintings, in King Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme.

There are also small spaces in the area which are used as galleries to show new work by artists; at Staffordshire University, at theatre foyers such as the New Vic.

     _{MANAGED STUDIO SPACES & CREATIVE CLUSTERS:}

Burslem:

::  Burslem School of Art. Contact Cath at the School to be put on the waiting list for managed studios in the School. 34 start-up business units are also to be released in the town centre in 2005/6. Further live/work studio & work/retail space for creatives and artists are being developed in the town by Touchstone.

::  Burslem Enterprise Centre, Stoke-on-Trent. 33 managed workshops and offices for all kinds of small businesses. Offers "easy in, easy out" letting arrangements, central reception, cafe, 24 hour access and more. The Centre is right on the newly built National Cycle Path No.5, near to the Burslem Campus of Stoke F.E. College, and is within easy walking distance of the Burslem School of Art, the Business Innovation Centre, and the Queen's Theatre.

::  Groundwork Enterprise Centre, Burslem. Has eight units available from April 2006.

Near the University:

::  Shelton Enterprise Centre, Stoke-on-Trent. 90 managed workshops and offices for all kinds of small businesses. Offers "easy in, easy out" letting arrangements, central reception, 24-hour access, and a conference room. Near to the University and mainline rail station.

::  Staffordshire University Creative Village on the College Road campus, Stoke-on-Trent. The open plan workshop opens in 2006, and is sub-divided into areas with workbenches, seating, storage, and broadband.

::  Railway Enterprise Centre - a general business unit cluster at Cliffe Vale, with 25 units.

::  Lonsdale Chambers & Victoria Chambers - business incubation complex for start-up IT and office-based companies.

Newcastle-under-Lyme and Keele:

::  Newcastle Enterprise Centre - workshops available for monthly lettings, from 154 sq ft to 592 sq ft.

::  Lymedale Court Enterprise Centre - offices available for monthy lettings - 160 and 320 sq ft

::  Silverdale Enterprise Centre - mixed office and workshop space.

::  Keele University Science Park may be suitable for larger creative businesses with a high technology base and significant R&D needs.

Longton:

::  The Hothouse Centre for Ceramic Design.  Stoke's hi-tech creative/ceramics cluster, with 20 studios for.... "new and developing small design-related businesses", with access to 3D virtual modelling and rapid prototyping technology so you can visualise & refine your product before you start making it. In 2004 it expanded into the nearby Grade-II listed Sutherland Institute, adding another 23 studio/offices.

::  The Roslyn Works.  A 16-studio crafts complex, based in a Grade II listed building in Longton, Stoke. Adjacent is The Sutherland Institute and St. James House. Trentham Lakes:

 IMEX Technology Park. On Trentham Lakes South, Stoke-on-Trent. 1,000 - 6,000 sq. ft. studio units, "easy in, easy out" letting arrangements, and 24-hour access, for technology based start-ups.

_{DIY ?}

Many parts of Stoke-on-Trent abound in affordable substantial Victorian warehouse/school/church/library/etc. buildings, often empty. Burslem & Stoke town/Fenton/Boothen are good hunting areas. Or you could look further afield to the more expensive towns of Newcastle-under-Lyme and Leek. Take your pick and make a formal approach to the owner; they may be glad to have it occupied on a short-let & for a nominal rent! That will enable you to "try before you buy", and give you time to detect any problems and pitfalls.

Those in the countryside surrounding Stoke-on-Trent may benefit from the 'Redundant Building Grant Scheme' run by the Rural Development Commission, if you want to renovate an old building for use as studios, a gallery, an arts training centre, or offices.

      _{EVENT VENUES, suitable for arts & design events:}

::  Trentham Gardens - beautiful parkland, gardens, pagodas and lakes, in the south of Stoke-on-Trent. Currently (Spring 2004) undergoing the first phase of a two-year £100-million refurbishment - it will be open again for the summer from 29th May 2004.

::  King's Halls & Jubilee Halls - Stoke City Council's evocative & lofty Empire-era meeting halls, a short walk from Stoke train station.

::  Stoke Film Theatre - a modern 212-seat purpose-built art cinema, just around the corner from Stoke's main train station. Good screening venue, and there are suitable follow-on meeting rooms on the first floor of the University Library, opposite. The cinema is always open to the public; it's not limited just to University students.

::  Moat House Hotel - a modern four-star hotel on Festival Park. The leading business conference centre in the city.

::  Keele University Conference Centre & Art Gallery. Keele currently (Spring 06) has an Arts Development Officer for the university, John Rhodes.

::  Wedgwood Worker's Educational College - at Barlaston, Stoke-on-Trent. Charming Edwardian building in beautiful gardens, with residential facilities and the traditionally fine WEA food.

::  Britannia Stadium - the brand-new football stadium for Stoke City FC. Has also hosted large music concerts, and the conference facilities often host smaller trade expo's - such as 2002's two-day Digital Photography expo.

::  Burslem School of Art - friendly venue, classic building, in the middle of a historic town. Recently had a £1.2m refurbishment. Has meeting rooms & large studios upstairs which are suitable for workshop events of up to 50 people.

::   Art on Board - Willowmoor Art Workshop is a 50ft narrow boat travelling around the North Staffordshire canal network.

::  Alton Towers - Britain's biggest theme-park, located about 14 miles east of Stoke. The Park features 300 acres of wonderful landscaped gardens, too, which are totally untouched by the Theme Park. Alton Towers closes totally (including the gardens) during the Winter season.

::  Kibblestone International Scout Camp, near the town of Stone, just south of Stoke. A mixture of camping and indoor accommodation set in 82 acres, available for hire. Has many wooded glades. Suitable for role-playing groups, environmental artists, storytelling festivals, children's art/music camps, etc. Barnswood Scout Camp near Leek is a similar venue which can also be hired.

::   Tommy Cheadle's Bar at Port Vale Football Club is available to Creative Stoke readers free of charge (Sundays to Thursdays only) for meetings, events, launches & functions. The bar can hold up to 250 people and Port Vale F.C. in Burslem offers huge parking facilities. Contact Keith on: 01782 838204 - and tell him you read about the offer on Creative Stoke.

Want even more options? Try the Staffordshire Conference Bureau service.