A friendly, untutored clay group enjoying making hand built pottery and sculpture. Beginners welcome and helped to start with some clay, the group tool kit, library and masses of helpful advice.
The group meets every Mondays, 9:30am to 12:30pm.
£8 per session.
Have you ever wanted to write your life story – but felt unsure of where to begin? This six week memoir course led by Grace Palmer, experienced writer, editor and teacher will guide you through the process of turning your memories into compelling narratives, using the tools of fiction to bring your past life onto the page.
You’ll learn
· What is memoir and where to begin your story
· How to structure your story for maximum impact
· How to write in scenes, and create vivid prose
· Editing and polishing your story
6-week course on Fridays: Sep 4, 11, 25, Oct 2, 9, 16 (No session on Sep 18)
10:00am - 12:00pm
Cost: £105 for 6 sessions
To book, please ring: 01460 54973, between 9.30am and 3pm Tuesday to Saturday, or pop into the Arts Centre during those hours.
Watercolour classes with tutor Nicky Clarke
Tuesdays: Sept 8, 15, 22, 29, Oct 6, 13
Morning session: 10:00am - 12:00pm
Afternoon session: 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Cost: £20 per session
To book, contact Nicky directly on: 01460 281773 or email randnclarke@hotmail.co.uk
FULLY BOOKED
Painting is about ‘looking’ and drawing exercises our ‘looking’ skills and our awareness.
We will draw and paint on this course. Drawing exercises will designed to help us ‘see’ but painting is where we are aiming!
Beginners and experienced are all welcome to a relaxed class where everyone is encouraged and supported to work on individual choices and their own personal artistic development.
6 week course: Sep 16, 23, 30, Oct 7, 14, 21
Wednesdays 9:45am - noon
£132 for 6 sessions
To book, contact Juliet directly on: 01278 795364 or email: julietfarnese@gmail.com
FULLY BOOKED
Learn to paint gorgeous, floral paintings in acrylics in these weekly sessions. Let your imagination flow as you explore a loose and expressive style with experienced tutor Karen Huwen.
Sep 16, 23, 30, Oct 14, 21
Wednesdays 1:00 - 3:00pm
Cost: £85 for 5 weeks
To book, please ring: 01460 54973, between 9.30am and 3pm Tuesday to Saturday, or pop into the Arts Centre during those hours.
Exploring Inks
Delve into the world of ink in this one day workshop where you can discover the wonderful ways that ink can be used to create exciting paintings. Margaret Micklewright is an experienced tutor who has been using ink for many years as her main painting media. She will explain the techniques and methods that she has discovered in using this surprisingly colourful medium.
Please bring heavyweight watercolour paper (ideally 300gms), synthetic brushes and a water sprayer. Ink will be provided by the tutor
Saturday 26 September, Time: 9.30am - 12.00pm
Cost £50
To book, please ring: 01460 54973, between 9.30am and 3pm Tuesday to Saturday, or pop into the Arts Centre during those hours.
FULLY BOOKED!
Discover the beautiful art of fused glass and create your own stunning autumn tealight holder. Choose between crafting a cosy Votive Style Tealight or a beautiful Autumn Wreath Tealight.
No Experience Needed: Whether you are a complete beginner or looking to try something new, you will be guided every step of the way.
Expert Guidance: Your tutor, Michelle Joy, brings over 18 years of glass-fusing experience to help you bring your ideas to life.
Key Information
Cost: £35 (Includes all materials, tools, and professional kiln firing)
Saturday 17 October, 10:00 - 12:00
After the Workshop
Your unique creation will be carefully taken away to be fired in the kiln. It will be ready for you to collect from the Ilminster Arts Centre just 10 days later.
What to Know Before You Come
What to bring: A closed-top drink. (To keep the workspace safe, no food or open-topped drinks are allowed in the workshop).
What to wear: Please wear closed-toe shoes where possible, and avoid garments with long, floaty sleeves.
To book, please ring: 01460 54973, between 9.30am and 3pm Tuesday to Saturday, or pop into the Arts Centre during those hours.
*Please note that bookings for workshops are not refundable unless we are fully booked and have a waiting list. Refunds are subject to a £5 admin charge.
This workshop with tutor, Peter Ursem offers a practical introduction to the process of making a linocut, from your first inspiration to the actual print. Through simple exercises we explore the intriguing process of developing an initial sketch to a workable design, transfer this onto the lino block, carve and then print.
You will discover that lino printing can be taken into so many different directions, from delightful swirls and pattern, to vibrant markmaking and dramatic expression. Peter will guide you through all aspect of this technique, not just the cutting but also the printing.
Thursday 22 October - 10:30am - 2:30pm
Cost: £50 (Plus £5 payable to the tutor on the day for materials)
To book, please ring: 01460 54973, between 9.30 and 3pm Tuesday to Saturday, or pop into the Arts Centre during those hours.
Sophie Rosa is in demand as a soloist, director and chamber musician. Ian Buckle maintains a varied freelance career as solo pianist, chamber musician, orchestral pianist and teacher. He is the artistic director of Pixels Ensemble, which he formed in 2016
Promoted by Concerts in the West
Tickets £20
Joanna Eden returns to Ilminster Arts Centre by popular demand bringing with her Memories of Montevideo tour alongside Uruguayan co-writer and husband, bassist Andrés Lafone.
Tickets: £20
Phil Beer is the multi-instrumental half of the west country’s award-winning acoustic duo, Show of Hands. With a professional career of over 36 years, Phil has a great deal of material to draw on for his solo appearances, which are an eclectic mix of traditional tunes, covers of Springsteen or The Hollies, together with his own compositions and songs from his contemporaries.
Tickets: £20
The world’s largest* 100% hand-crafted fused glass map was created near Ilminster in 2025.
It was then carried 100s of miles to its remote island destination across treacherous waters.
Find out why, how and where in an illustrated talk by the map artist, Malcolm Hastings.
(*probably)
Free - Donations in aid of Arts Centre
Join the Big Yellow Tambourine Man Band on a radical tour of some of the most iconic songs from our generation’s greatest singer-songwriters, Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan.
With stops in Greenwich Village, Laurel Canyon and the Isle of Wight, this enigmatic, multi-instrumentalist five-piece will make you feel like you’re really there, man…
Tickets: £22
Belgian harpist Lise Vandersmissen has won many prizes including the Guildhall Harp Prize. Gabriela Opacka-Boccadoro is a Polish-British musician who has built a career as a violinist, conductor, and recording artist across classical performance, theatre, and film. She holds a PhD in violin from the Chopin University of Music in Warsaw.
Promoted by Concerts in the West
Tickets £20
Join us for an evening with legendary US blues harmonica player, Johnny Mars
Tickets:
Standard adult: £22
The Somer Singers are a mixed-voice, four-part vocal harmony group drawn from the Somerton, Langport and Ilminster areas. Our repertoire includes songs from the 60’s through to the noughties, ranging from pop classics to mighty ballads, along with a smattering of blues, gospel and show tunes.
Tickets: £10
Artwork made with African communities, with the theme of migratory birds. Somerset Art Works and Quantock Hills NL.
Somerset Art Weeks Festival - Venue 33
Open Tuesday - Saturday 09:30-15:00
Exhibition ends on Saturday 3rd October, 15:00
Free Entry
An exhibition of relief prints following the amazing life-story of eels from birth, death and regeneration in the Sargasso Sea
‘Meet the Artist’ - Saturday 19th September
Somerset Art Weeks Festival - Venue 33
Open Tuesday - Saturday 09:30-15:00
Exhibition ends on Saturday 3rd October, 15:00
Free Entry
Luan MacDonald - SAW Project Development Bursary
Exploring the feminine voice and community; embedding them into the landscape, through the medium of print and textiles.
Somerset Art Weeks Festival - Venue 33
Open Tuesday - Saturday 09:30-15:00
Exhibition ends on Saturday 3rd October, 15:00
Free Entry
Ilminster Arts Centre Photography Open Exhibition 2026. This judged exhibition invited photographers from across the region to submit their work for the chance to be showcased in in this special Open event.
Open Tuesday to Saturday, 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM. Free Entry.
Exhibition ends on Friday 13th November, 15:00
Sponsored by GTH & Portcullis Freemasons Lodge No 2038
Supported by Awakenings at Wick: Artist Residency
