What are the opening hours?

Saturday 11am - 4pm Sunday 11am - 4pm

StArt

A working art studio shared by six local artists, with gallery & shop. Art for sale, workshops, events and more!

StArt is an open studio gallery space, which is shared by six talented local artists. The studio is open every Friday and Satirday, 11am - 4pm for the public to browse the artwork on offer, we also have a different guest artist's work on display every month. We also run creative events such as arts & crafts workshops, popup exhibitions, socials and more!

31/05/2026

May's Word Up was a hoot, way back when it was cool enough to wear trousers. Roll the temperature dice with us next month, by joining us Friday 19 June and seeing if we can cook an egg on the studio floor.

Thanks to everyone who came. Nobody read something with the SECRET WORD in it, so for the first time ever the SECRET WORD and the associated prize rolls over to next time (that was only the second time we've done the SECRET WORD, go figure).

And now for recap word salad (part of your textual picky bits, the only permissable tea in this weather):

Remember what parties are like / they are the shadows drifting across our ceiling before we wake up / the leaves sing in my dreams to you / to dream of the lead singer of Slade foretells a period of laddish behaviour / arms raised to the grateful dead / white silk in the wind / my body already knows the ending

Photo credit: James Riddick

13/05/2026

We are rapidly approaching the third Friday of the month. Again! Already! Can you believe it?

Word Up back again this Friday 15 May. Doors 7pm, start 7.30pm(ish). Lateness is absolutely tolerated though you may feel a little awkward. Speak, listen, shout (only if it's your turn) and bring your own drinks for a lovely free evening.

See you there x

21/04/2026

As you can see, some marvellous stances were formulated at Friday's Word Up. You've got plenty of time to practise yours before the next one which is Friday 15 May.

The gremlin of record keeping remembered their implements this time and so are absolved of their sins. Without further ado, the recollective word soup:

the day is seizing itself / a precise bubble like cod liver oil / the motion sickness of possibilities being born / a reel of soviet spy films / the secret word was 'dance' / your blood itches / the first lawnmower of spring / my blood is out there on that cloth / the music played but not for you / let's love on the moon

16/04/2026

Flippin' 'eck it's only Word Up tomorrow night. Tomorrow night being 17 April.

Come along from 7pm for a 7.30pm start. It's FREE. do a listen, do a read, do a speak, do a drink, maybe even do an eat (not too crunchy).

See you soon. x

09/04/2026

Do you fancy having your very own art studio and becoming a member of StArt? 🎨✨

We currently have a studio space available to rent in our spacious, open-plan art studio. For just £100 per month, you’ll receive:

- 24-hour access to your studio space
- StArt membership benefits, including free entry to all workshops and events, plus the opportunity to host your own
- Access to kitchen and bathroom facilities
- Free use of shared materials and equipment
- Opportunities to sell your artwork
- Connections with a wider community of artists and creatives

Sound interesting? Get in touch via email at [email protected]
to find out more! 😁

30/03/2026

At March's Word Up we carved out a crevice of community in the evening of the vernal equinox. Be part of the next one Friday 17 April! The gremlin tasked with keeping written record of the evening was so overjoyed by the transition of seasons that they forgot to bring any sort of implements to do so. We hope you'll forgive them (even if we haven't yet).

Please accept the result of the evening's exquisite co**se in its place:

Behold the blank page! See the possibilities surface - like bubbles - restless into the wild

Take the brush of creativity and paint our dreams upon the fabric of reality

That which is sought, is seldom caught, and the chase is all for nought but chase I will, till an end is near and I know no fear at all

Tumbling, fumbling, drunkenly bumbling,

Your light illuminates all those in the room, but leaves you in the shadows

Don't tickle my belly

And I'll give you the moon in a cup of tea and the stars on a bourbon biscuit

Equinox is exquisite, just like this co**se

And this bit is about longing, really, as if the others weren't. We gaze at the moon and wish it was ours

Chim-chiminy, chim-chiminy, chim-chim chiroo. Beware of the fart that comes with a poo!

#

19/03/2026

Word Up returns this Friday, 20 March, nipping eagerly at the budding heels of spring. It might even be warm-ish in the studio.

As always, doors at 7pm for a roughly 7.30ish pm start, absolutely free and please bring your own drinks and, heck, even snacks if they don't smell or make a lot of noise.

See you Friday. x

05/03/2026

📣 Art Studio Space Available!📣

StArt currently has one spacious area available to rent in our large open-plan studio.

Rent is £100 p/m, which includes electricity costs, shared art materials/equipment, kitchenette, free admission to all workshops/events, and more!

Please DM to inquire :)

04/03/2026

A small but mighty contigent for February's Word Up. You can add to the size and/or strength next time on Friday 20 March. But more about February, with a classic word soup recollection of events:

Starting off strong AND important "you aren't better than anyone", but Bert does like his hair. It becomes a tradition after three times - do dreams sit ready to be dreamed? The people put you where you are - gleaming with satisfaction at being this very child. And drunk and blind in its pleasures and its pains we confirmed that sausages actually are 'snosiges', brocolli is 'broloci' and stilton is 'stitlon'.

Come along next time and see if that makes any more sense to you, or add your own unique layer to the confusion. x

Excellent photography by

14/02/2026

Word Up is back for February, with the storm of Valentine's day having blown well away, probably languishing somewhere in the mid-Atlantic in a squall of confetti and George at Asda limited edition lingerie. We'll be there on Friday 20 February from 7pm (for a 7.30pm start) and we'd love it if you were too. As always it's totally free. You don't even have to read or listen, but you'll probably have a better time if you do. We welcome first time readers, one-millionth time readers, first poems or T.S. Eliot Prize winners (unlikely). Community and togetherness is the name of the game and you can bring your own booze.

Be aware it may be a bit chilly in the studio so layers are recommended, maybe even a cosy poetry blanket if you have such a thing at your disposal. See you next week. x

Address

Unit 3, West Tower Street
Carlisle
CA38QT

Opening Hours

Saturday	11am - 4pm
Sunday	11am - 4pm

Website

http://www.startopenstudios.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when StArt posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to StArt:

Shortcuts

Want your museum to be the top-listed Museum in Carlisle?