A SIX-week art show called Tonbridge Creates was launched in a pop-up shop on Angel Walk on Friday (February 23) ‘to show off Tonbridge’s rich artistic and creative community’.
A variety of workshops and events will be held until April 8. The opening weekend saw a free puppet-making class with Tonbridge-based theatre company Strangeface.
“Over 60 children took part and the shop was buzzing,” said Louise Knight (right), the creative force behind the project and co-founder of The Wheels on Debussy, which offers classical music experiences for children.
“We had feedback forms in the shop and they all showed what a positive impact the hub is having to the high street,” she added. “More workshops are being added all the time.”
Tonbridge Creates will feature a parent-and-child choir every Friday morning, further drop-in craft sessions for children, crochet workshops, doodling for adults, a Linocut workshop and a pottery painting class.
Louise said: “We want to prove that if you support your creative community, you can bring vitality and people back to a town’s High Street.
“Tonbridge is a hotbed of artistic and creative talent. There are so many groups and societies to join and also artists and crafters creating beautiful work.
“My dream would be for landlords to allow more pop-up shops. It would revitalise the town.”
