Creative Development

St Helens is home to a growing, vibrant, and inclusive creative community—and Arts in Libraries is proud to be supporting its development. As part of our Artists & Creative Development strand, we've commissioned Artist-Led to deliver a dynamic programme shaped directly by the findings of the recent Creative Industries Survey.

This programme is built around what local artists told us they need: more opportunities to connect, collaborate, and grow. It's open to artists of all disciplines and at every stage of their creative journey—from emerging talent to established professionals. Whether you're a visual artist, performer, writer, maker, or working in digital media, you're invited to be part of this supportive and inspiring network.

What's included?

• Networking events to meet fellow creatives, share ideas, and spark new collaborations.
• Mentoring opportunities with experienced artists to help develop your practice and navigate your career.
• Peer support groups offering regular meetups, feedback sessions, and a space to build community and resilience.

This is more than a programme—it's a movement to empower artists, strengthen creative connections, and build a sustainable creative ecosystem in St Helens. Every element has been designed in response to the voices of our local creative community.

Together, we're laying the foundations for a stronger, more connected creative future in St Helens.

Be part of it. #CreativeStHelens

Current Opportunities:

Arts In Libraries Artist Commissions

For the 25/26 round of AiL Creative Commissions, St Helens Library Service invites applications to fund three (3) artists/creatives to create original, site-specific works. One each for:

• Moss Bank Library
• Thatto Heath Library
• Eccleston Library

Each of the three commissions is worth £3000, inclusive of material budget.

For more information and to apply, visit: https://forms.office.com/e/tJn40cDmhM

Arts In Libraries Equipment Workshops

Join Arts In Libraries and Artist-Led for a series of hands-on workshops exploring the brand‑new Arts Equipment Library (launching Autumn 2026).

These practical sessions will introduce you to equipment including the Black Magic film camera, frame‑making tools, a pop‑up darkroom, podcast kit, an overlocker machine, and drone flying.

For further information and to reserve your FREE space: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/artist-led-st-helens-104135192191

Arts In Libraries On The Mics

Join our On The Mic event a fun, welcoming space for performers of all styles and abilities to shine. Whether you sing, speak, act, rhyme, or try something totally unexpected, we want to see it! Signup link : https://forms.office.com/e/DqgaW1DGgk

Arts In Libraries Creative Database

We're also growing our community of creatives! If you're into workshops, photography, film or other creative skills and you're interested in local opportunities sign up to our creative database HERE

In 2026, Artist Led St Helens will deliver a varied programme of events designed to support artists at different stages of their practice, offering opportunities to learn, make and connect with others.

Activities take place both in person and online, with events hosted at venues in St Helens including Street and a Half and Chester Lane Library.

The programme includes a Carbon Literacy training day, delivered in partnership with Zero Carbon Liverpool City Region, offering artists and creatives the chance to gain a nationally recognised Carbon Literacy certificate and develop the knowledge and confidence to take meaningful climate action within their practice and communities.

Alongside this, Artist Led St Helens will host a series of artist talks, co-working sessions and Artist-Led workshops, including How to Make the Most of Your Studio, Reviewer's Collective online meet-ups, and the Unfinished Projects Monthly Social, which offers a supportive, informal space for shared creativity!!

Soup-er Sessions (new) provide a mixed programme of co-working space, 1-2-1 sessions, artist talks and a pan of soup (!), creating a space for artists to work, learn and seek advice.

The programme also introduces a Masterclass series linked to the new St Helens Arts in Libraries Equipment Library. Led by invited artists, these sessions will introduce key pieces of equipment available to borrow, including podcast equipment, a Blackmagic 4K camera, a pop-up darkroom for pinhole photography, drone photography equipment, frame making and mount cutting tools, and sewing with an overlocker.

These events are made by artists for artists so...  try things out, move ideas around or just come along to see what we're up to.

Booking Links:

Carbon Literacy with Zero Carbon Liverpool City Region.

Saturday 31st January 2026, 10:30am - 3:30pm

Street and a Half, Haydock Street, St Helens WA10 1DD

Carbon Literacy is a day's worth of climate learning and action. It equips individuals, communities and organisations with the knowledge, motivation and skills needed to take meaningful action against climate change. 

Eventbrite Link: https://carbonliteracy-310126.eventbrite.com

How to make the most of your studio with Klaire Doyle

Tuesday 24th February 2026 5pm - 6pm

Street and a Half, Haydock Street, St Helens WA10 1DD

An illustrated presentation / talk with activities to discuss, plan and think about ways to build effective studio habits, create studio rituals and understand our potential relationship to a studio.

Eventbrite Link: https://how-to-make-the-most-of-your-studio.eventbrite.co.uk

Reviewer's Collective online meet ups

Join our next online meeting to join Reviewer's Collective, where we'll be setting the brief for our public sharing event:

Next online meeting - Thu 22nd January 2026, 11am-12noon Eventbrite: https://reviewerscollective220126.eventbrite.co.uk

Check in (online) - Weds 18th February 2026, 11am - 12 noon Eventbrite: https://reviewerscollective180226.eventbrite.co.uk

Sharing Event (in person) - Sat 21st March 2026 (details on Eventbrite): https://reviewerscollective210326.eventbrite.co.uk

Unfinished Projects Monthly Social 

Tuesday 3rd February 2026 (5-8pm) | Tuesday 3rd March 2026 (5-8pm) | Tuesday 31st March 2026 (5-8pm)

Join Cameron Jones in a monthly space where you show up, other creatives show up and you hold each other accountable to finish off a project that has been languishing in your notebook. 

Eventbrite link: https://unfinishedprojects-monthly.eventbrite.co.uk

Soup-er Sessions: 
Co-work space, Artist Support, 5pm Artists Talks and a pan of soup.

Alternate Tuesday afternoons from 1pm - 6pm

10th February 2026, 24th February 2026, 10th March 2026, 24th March 2026

Just like a good soup, these Tuesday afternoons have all the ingredients for artists and creatives to get support and develop their work. 

Co-work Space 1-5pm: We'll be opening up the Event Spaces at Street and a Half for you to come and use for your creative endeavours. The space is available if you want to rehearse a piece of work, sit at a table and write, set up an easel and paint, set up your work to photograph it. If you need some space, we'll provide it.

Artist Support 1-5pm: Do you want to pick our brains about something? Maybe you've got an application you want advice on, or you'd like a recap on one of the toolkit sessions we ran last year. Maybe you'd like to share your portfolio and get some feedback on work that you're making. Either drop in (you might need to wait), or book a time slot online where you can have a chat with artist Claire Weetman from Artist-Led St Helens.

5pm Artists Talks: We'll finish the day off with an artist talking about and sharing their work. Maybe pop in after work to hear what your fellow creatives are up to, or if you'd like to sign up to be one of the artists who shares their work, email us studiosinsthelens@gmail.com.

A pan of soup: To keep us warm and full of energy through the winter months, we'll have a pan of soup available during the afternoon and evening.

Eventbrite Link: https://soup-ersessions.eventbrite.co.uk

Masterclass programme - introductions to the Equipment Library

Wednesday evenings and Saturday Afternoons (Dates to be confirmed) Please check The Artist Led Eventbrite page for when these go live!

Chester Lane Library

We have invited six artists to each lead a Masterclass session that will introduce key pieces of equipment that will be available to borrow from the new St Helens Arts in Libraries Equipment Library this year.

Sessions will include:

An introduction to Podcast equipment with Cameron Jones

An introduction the the Black Magic 4K Camera with artist Sean Reynard

An introduction to the pop up darkroom - Pinhole Camera Photography with Lucy Evans.

An introduction to Drone Photography with Hassona

An introduction to Frame making and Mount cutting

An introduction to sewing with an Overlocker with Siobhan Kerr from Zero Waste Fashion

Want to know more?

There are lots of ways to stay connected with Artist-Led and keep up to date with events, opportunities, and creative activity in St Helens:

Linktree - Your one-stop hub for all our links:
https://linktr.ee/artistledsthelens

Instagram - Follow us for updates, behind-the-scenes content, and event news:
@artistledsthelens

Facebook - We regularly post updates and opportunities here too:
facebook.com/artistledStHelens

Eventbrite - Book onto our events and workshops:
Artist-Led on Eventbrite - httphttps://www.eventbrite.com/o/artist-led-st-helens-104135192191

WhatsApp Channel - Get reminders and call-outs straight to your phone:
Join our WhatsApp Channel - https://tr.ee/nTEi3HpUK5

Stay in the loop! Sign up to our Creatives Database and get the latest news, events, and opportunities delivered straight to your inbox. Don't miss out—join today! HERE