Where: Ashfield, Bolsover, Mansfield and North East Derbyshire
With: Creswell Heritage Trust, Junction Arts, The Prince's Trust and Ault Hucknall Environmental Group.

“We’ve never felt part of an arts circle before and didn’t really have the confidence to be involved, but doors have definitely been opened now.”
Participant

Established in 2014, First Art works across the four districts of Ashfield, Bolsover, Mansfield and North Derbyshire in the East Midlands, an area where many communities are dispersed including a number that are rural. First Art brings inspirational cultural experiences within reach of everyone living in Ashfield, Bolsover, Mansfield and North East Derbyshire, as well as helping local people to produce and shape their own cultural experiences and events.

Our programme is made up of a number of different strands to give as many people as possible the chance to be part of some great cultural experiences. 

Activities range from outdoor arts festivals and cabaret nights, to immersive-style community cinema, picnics with a twist, and guerilla-style light-themed art installations. We try to offer a wide range of ways for local people and partners to have their say, take part, develop, give new things a whirl and do proper good things together.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, we have developed and delivered a hybrid programme combining online and remote events and activities with, where feasible, physical outdoor events and spectacles.