Come follow the star (and map) to journey around a new Christmas Creative Trail from Birkenhead Market to Hamilton Square and beyond.
Born out of the desire and necessity to connect the dots between venues and events, in what can sometimes otherwise feel like a desolate desert if you’re doing it all alone.
Surrounded by artists and makers in such a creative environment as Make Hamilton, Ruth Timmins-Williams and her husband Matthew, have a studio, where they produce their own work and also run their business, Emulsional Support. “The idea of having a Christmas market in-house seemed obvious. After hearing from the council about a ‘clash’ of a youth market in Birkenhead market on the same day it made sense, instead of being rivals to be collaborative, share the marketing and offer more of a draw to the area.” They reached out to other artist’s studios and local businesses to get involved too. Making it a better experience for visitors and traders alike. So the trail was born and it has grown organically as more venues and collectives have got on board and been added to the map.
Some of the more established local locations will be showcasing a diverse selection of work made by and appealing to locals of all ages.
Birkenhead Market hosts the Youth Market which pops up regularly at various locations across the Wirral, offering young people a fantastic opportunity to sell their work and supporting them on their own creative journeys.
Walk along Argyle Street and first you will find Future Yard’s Christmas Market returns for the second date of seasonal shopping, with an eclectic mix of stalls of funky festive gifts to fill you with Christmas Cheer (and beers!)
Just around the corner is the aforementioned Make Hamilton in their relatively new home with the recently opened Blooming Skulls Cafe on the ground floor. This is where they will be hosting their own makers’ Christmas fair this year, a rare occasion to have all their makers together in one room, for your convenience and theirs
Further along Argyle St on the other side of the road just before you get to Hamilton Sq is Rathbone Studio’s with their carefully curated collection of ceramics and artisanal crafts, perfect gifts for the more discerning friend, family member or cherished colleague.
Before you turn onto Hamilton Square, look to your left onto Price St and you will see BirkenHack, a new makerspace on Brunswick Court. They will be open from 3-5pm, for some festive crafting and a Christmas Jumper Swap with Zero Fashion CIC and Circular Arts Network. Come in for a cuppa and chat with them about their exciting plans for a Wardrobe Library and all things Repair and Reuse that are in the pipeline for the new year.
Next up is new kid on the block Play Play Play – a new risograph print studio nestled at the top edge of the map, well worth a trip if you’ve ever wanted to explore printing yourself. Mark Simmonds will be there to show you Riso printing in action and have prints available to takeaway on the day!
Common Thread is a relaxed and welcoming maker social designed to bring people together over textiles and mending. It’s a space to reconnect with your wardrobe, share skills, and meet like-minded people.Bring along a project, grab a seat and a cuppa, and let’s get stitching! Essential sewing tools and materials are provided. The event normally takes place every first Sunday of the month at Birch Gallery, but this month only it will be on Saturday 13th December as part of the Creative Trail.
Hot off the press, and hot on the heels of their own official Open Studios at the end of November, some of the residents at no.1 Hamilton Square will be opening their doors again for one day only. With many artists and makers across three floors, including Gweni-Louu, Landlines Studios, Elena Pratt, Jane Bennett and others to be confirmed.
Depending where you started your route, last but by no means least is Green Jam Creatives. Opened earlier this year by mother and daughter Julie Dodd and Jade Muat Dodd, it is a cute little shop, quite literally jam-packed with quirky gifts from an ever-growing catalogue of local artists and makers. They still manage to make time and space to host fun and inclusive regular making and drawing workshops, that like puppies, are not just for Christmas!
www.visitwirral.com/event/christmas-creative-trail/70913101
Youth Market
Celebrating local talent~Birkenhead Market
Grange Precinct, CH41 2YH
Christmas Makers Fair
Gifts from resident artists and makers
Make Hamilton + Bloomies
69-71 Argyle St, CH41 6LQ
Usually on the first Sunday of each month at Birch Gallery, Common Thread will be joining us on the day for a Special Christmas Edition as part of the Creative Trail.
More details coming soon.
Pottery Open Studio
Hand created, original ceramics
Rathbone Studio
28 Argyle St, CH41 6AE
Christmas Jumper Swap & Crafting
Zero Fashion CIC and CircularArtsNetworkLCR
3pm – 5pm at BirkenHack
Brunswick Ct, 4-6 Price St, CH41 6SE
@zerofashionuk
@CircularArtsNetworkLCR
Open Studio event
Explore risograph printing
Play Play Play
Unit 4, 106 Bridge Street, CH41 1AN
@play.play.play.press –
@marinad.designs
Quirky Gifts and Workshops
Diverse range of gifts, art and cards
Green Jam Creatives
50 Hamilton St CH41 5AE
@greenjamcreatives
Open Studios across 3 floors*
Art, Prints, Textiles, Jewellery, and more Made by the many residents based at
No. 1 Hamilton Square, CH41 6AU
@birch.studios.gallery
@landlines_studio
@gwenilouu
@janebennett__art
@fayecrh
Most events are from 11am – 4pm
*Housed in an old bank building, the studios are across several floors which unfortunately makes them inaccessible for wheelchairs. Contact the studios or makers directly for assistance or if you want to view their work online or in other ways.
—
Words, Sanna King
