Creative Village CIC (community interest company) are a not for profit organisation who deliver art based workshops in the Teesside area. Directors Lucy Addison & Jess Langford started Creative Village 9 years ago after graduating from University. As artists, Lucy & Jess wanted to teach workshops to pass on their passion for art and making to as many people as they could, supporting art for all. Creative Village are proud to have had many projects funded by Awards for All, Big Lottery Fund. Being a not for profit organisation means everything is invested back into the business, allowing more people to benefit from art workshops, enhancing their skills and making something they’re proud of.  

Creative Village started in Jess’s parents garage where Lucy & Jess made their jewellery work for their sole trader businesses & stored all the materials & equipment for their art workshops. Obviously pretty early on they started to run out of space (Jess is a hoarder of all things that will never get used!) and they spent years climbing over masses of stuff to get to their work benches. In the pandemic lockdown they moved their jewellery studios home to their spare bedrooms. Now filling 2 spare bedrooms, 2 garages and Jess’s parents garage full to the brim… they realised it was time they moved out & found a space to become home to the businesses.  

This year Creative Village have moved into a new studio space on Stockton High Street. The studio is currently under renovation but will become home to new art workshops which will be open to the public. Running regular workshops and events, there will be lots of creative classes to get involved in. Weekly sessions will include jewellery workshops, ceramics and general art and making sessions. The workshops will be available to book via the shop page soon. The studio will offer opportunities for local creatives to use facilities via a booking service. Look out in the near future for block bookings, 1:1 learning experiences & jewellery bench and kiln rental. 

The workshops cover a wide range of art disciplines including jewellery making, ceramics, print making and all things made by hand. Using skills adopted in their own businesses, they use Creative Village as a platform to share their knowledge and skillset with others. 

Over the past 9 years Creative Village have worked with many local organisations, charities and individuals delivering their workshops to young carers, women affected by domestic violence, people with additional needs, LGBTQ+ groups,  youth groups, people living in deprived areas and many more. The workshops are tailored to meet the needs of the attendees, providing a bespoke service to be inclusive of everyone’s needs and abilities. The benefits of art include reducing stress, improving wellbeing and mental health, build confidence and self esteem and reducing social isolation. Art can give an opportunity to allow people a break from everyday stresses, giving them a space to ‘just be’ creating a sense of escapism. Creative Village art workshops have already benefitted many people in the community.

Creative Village continue to deliver their art workshops in the community. They are always on the look out for quirky venues to host art workshops. If your organisation, work place, business or venue are interested in Creative Village art workshops please email creative-village@hotmail.com and request an expression of interest form. 

Lucy & Jess look forward to welcoming you to their new space. To keep up to date with the renovation & studio opening please follow their social media and sign up to the Creative Village newsletter.

Instagram: @creativevillagecic

Facebook: www.facebook.com/CreativeVillageCIC