Our Top Arts and Culture Picks This Month

Go behind the scenes with Heritage Open Days

9 - 18 September

This September, immerse yourself in England’s largest festival of history and culture, with Heritage Open Days giving you free access to the best of Cumbria’s cultural attractions for one week only. Take your pick from guided tours taking you behind the scenes of castles, churches, Turkish baths, Cumbria’s industrial coastline, and even the historic military cells at Carlisle Castle which are usually closed to the public. Events and experiences are taking place across the county, and there are plenty of opportunities to dive into Cumbria’s unseen history, from exciting re-enactments of medieval events at Dalton’s 14th century castle to the history of wool weaving and textiles, plus family-friendly heritage boat trips.View Cumbria’s full Heritage Open Day listings here.

Photo: Sam Scales

Discover exciting proposals for Landmark Artworks along the West Cumbrian Coast

Deep Time – Commissions for the Lake District Coast is hosting a FREE exhibition of proposals for a new landmark artwork for West Cumbria, featuring national and international artists; and showcasing new designs, models and films developed in response to the region’s varied landscapes and coastline.

Including new designs by Rachel Whiteread; Olafur Eliasson with Robert MacFarlane; Roger Hiorns with Tom Emerson (6A Architects), and Piet Oudolf with Nicolas Becker, Thomas Piper, Emanuele Coccia, AMI, and VPPR Architects.

• The Beacon Museum, Whitehaven: 10 September – 9 October 2022

• The Windermere Jetty Museum: 20 October – 20 November 2022

The exhibition is accompanied by a series of free talks and events at the Beacon Museum - find out more here.

Enter the bonkers world of The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine, with America’s most respected comic artist, Bill Morrison

23 Sep 2022 – 2 Jan 2023

The Windermere Jetty Museum is hosting a vibrant exhibition which celebrates Bill Morrison’s landmark Yellow Submarine graphic novel. View original sketches, preparatory work and some rare examples of The Beatles in comics.

Bill Morrison is one of America’s most respected comic artists and has worked with The Simpsons creator Matt Groening as an illustrator and writer, and as an art director for animated series, Futurama.

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Immerse yourself in the weird and wonderful ‘Winter Droving’ event in Penrith

22 October

Winter Droving, the weird and wonderful event which mixes wacky masquerade, music, street performance, art and torchlight parades, is a must-visit in Penrith. After three years in waiting, Winter Droving is back for its 11th year. Celebrating culture and community, it brings people together from a variety of backgrounds to immerse themselves in the unique and wonderful spectacle.

Stalls will also be on display, and visitors are encouraged to create and wear a fun animal mask.

 © The National Gallery, London

View a masterpiece by world-renowned artist, Rembrandt in Whitehaven

September 24 2022 – January 8 2023

The Beacon Museum in Whitehaven is set to host Rembrandt’s masterpiece, ‘Saskia van Uylenburgh in Arcadian Costume’ which is on loan from the National Gallery in London. Almost 400 years old, visitors can view this beautiful work of art which is one of many that the great Dutch artist painted or drew of his first wife, Saskia. The Beacon is just one of three museums across the country to host the piece, giving people north of London the chance to view a priceless piece of art by one of Europe’s most celebrated artists.

 

Laugh the night away with some of the best UK stand-up comedians at the Brewery Arts Centre

The Brewery Arts Centre’s September Comedy Club (23rd Sept) will feature seasoned international headliners and gifted performers including Chris Brooker, Tom Taylor, David Eagle and Sully O’Sullivan.

This adds to the lively event programme at the Brewery Arts Centre, including ‘Verbalise’, a monthly spoken word and open mic night (24th Sept). 

 

Photo: Theatre By The Lake

Catch a show at Theatre by the Lake

14 September – 8 October 2022

Brief Encounter is the latest live performance to come to The Theatre by the Lake, beautifully situated in Keswick. This playful performance turns Noël Coward’s classic film inside out, adding joyous musical numbers and comedy, while maintaining the truly classic romance of the original.  

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Last Chance to Uncover Roman Carlisle 

Until 30 September

Learn more about the excavation of Carlisle’s Roman Bathhouse thanks to Uncovering Roman Carlisle: an exhibition featuring real objects from the excavation, alongside images and stories from people on stie.

Located at Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery earlier this year, the exhibition is now on a tour of North Cumbria, bringing fascinating objects and stories to a range of locations from Bowness-on-Solway to the city of Carlisle. There are just two stops left on the exhibition’s tour: between 6 Sept - 18 Sept, you can visit it at the Burgh-By-Sands Village Hall, while from 20 Sept - 30 Sept it will be on display at Carlisle Cricket Club.