Arts and Entertainment

What's On
For details of local entertainment please see our What's On Guide.

Centre Stage
A very successful Centre Stage programme operates at various venues in the district, including Appleby Magna's Sir John Moore Foundation, Ashby Venture Theatre, Belton Village hall, Ibstock Palace, Kegworth Primary School, Kegworth Village Hall, Long Whatton Community Centre, Packington Memorial Hall, Thringstone Community Centre.

If you like to see professional live touring theatre/music productions, hosted and promoted in your local area by volunteers,
check out the Centre Stage website for details of a production near you. www.centrestagetouring.org.uk Centre Stage works in partnership with volunteer promoters in village halls and community venues who host their chosen show(s) in their local hall, selling tickets and promoting events.

The Centre Stage scheme is subsidised by Arts Council England, Leicestershire County Council, Rutland County Council and all the District and Borough Councils within Leicestershire. Centre Stage promoters contribute towards the cost of the scheme by selling tickets for professional shows, but the subsidy enables them to host high quality professional events and gives a range of selected shows from the twice yearly Touring Menus.

Local Authority Arts Officers at County and District level are involved in developing the scheme and distribute a Touring Programme/Menu, twice a year, from which promoting groups select their show(s).

If you would like to know more about becoming a local promoter please call Centre Stage's Coordinator who works at Nottinghamshire County Council (on behalf of the Leics, Lincs and Notts Rural Touring Partnership) on 0115 9774589 or email: artsadmin@nottscc.gov.uk

Jubilee Mosaics

To mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, North West Leicestershire District Council planted six new oak trees in Coalville Park, one for each decade of the Queen's reign. To complement these trees, during a celebration event, COALVILLE TWENTY12, members of the public were invited to join workshops to create six mosaic panels that illustrate various symbols of the Diamond Jubilee. Julie Vernon, a mosaic artist from Nottingham, prepared the designs and they were worked up during the day at the event. They now sit proudly in Coalville Park on London Road for all to enjoy.

Ashby Arts Festival
A group of volunteers in Ashby stage an Arts Festival in the centre of the town on the end of May Bank Holiday. Exhibitions, music events, photography competition, and the very popular and unique Outdoor Gallery (Giant paintings adorn the buildings in the main Market Street and surrounds) make this an exciting Festival right in the Heart of the National Forest. www.nationalforest.org.uk See their website for more information. www.ashbyartsfestival.co.uk

Coalville Public Art Trail

Coalville Arts Trail leaflet A new Coalville Public Art Trail leaflet has been put together, highlighting various art projects that have taken place in and around Coalville in recent years. This covers the Hugglescote Bear, Hugglescote Gateway, Irish Elk at Snibston, Memorial Square Panels, Phoenix Green Mural, Sustans Phoenix Green Milepost, Forest Road Mural, The Mother and Child Statue and The Miners' Statue. Also featured in the trail are the Jewels in the Town which are a series of mosaic panels which are sited on various buildings around the town. Each panel drew its inspiration from the building itself or from some aspect of the history of Coalville. The leaflet has a very good map so you can follow the trail yourself.