Whats coming up at GRAFT?
Exhibitions, workshops, courses and events
Fully Booked
An evening of Kinship and Sandown Celebration. Gathering people, ideas, art, thanks and momentum as the Tide Turners move towards the final stages of their bid for Town of Culture 2028. Come and hear updates on the campaign, participate in workshops and spend time with your community. Refreshments will be available. Galleries open thoughout the building.
7-9pm - Sandown Trove Exhibition: Come and explore a unique, unflinchingly honest portrait of the town. The exhibition is anchored by Boojum & Snark’s summer writer-in-residence Anmarie Bowler, who penned five original stories inspired by Sandown, including We Are The Tide Turners; with photographic portraits of the town and its people by Zoe Barker and Simon Avery.
7.30 pm - ‘Radio Free Sandown’ - Scratch performance ‘open source play’ written by and performed as part of The Sandown Trove.
7.50 pm - Introduction by Ian Boyd of The Common Space.
8 pm - World Cafe Style Workshop with Joe Redston
8.45 pm - Closing Words
9ish - Carriages.
Booking: All tickets have now been taken. However do email and we will see if we can accomodate if we have cancellations or to join our Tideturners mailing list.
GRAFT Studios, The North Wing, The Old Town Hall, Grafton Street, Sandown, PO36 8JJ.
Access: Ramp to the front of the building. Ground Floor entrance and The Common Room Gallery have no steps. The upstairs Swift Gallery and Old Pidgeon Loft are accessed by stairs. We appologise, we do not currently have a lift.
Join us as we celebrate the finale of the Sandown Scribe project. 11am-4pm daily between 9th-14th Nov.
Come and explore a unique, unflinchingly honest portrait of the town. The exhibition is anchored by Boojum & Snark’s summer writer-in-residence Anmarie Bowler, who penned five original stories inspired by Sandown, including We Are The Tide Turners, inspired by the Town of Culture’s WhatsApp Group.
Alongside Anmarie’s flash fiction is Sandown Refocused, a thought-provoking collection of photographs by fine art photographer Zoë Barker, which captures an unfiltered look at the town’s urban landscape.
Another angle comes from a powerful community black-and-white portrait series by photographer and curator Simon Avery. Nodding to the Victorian carte de visite style, Simon puts Sandown’s real workers and residents front and centre, celebrating the town’s human heart.
Exhibited In The Common Room Gallery on the ground floor, this room is fully accessable.
The Private view for this exhibtion is on 5th Nov 7-9pm and forms part of Sandown Tide Turners Kinship Gathering. Please book via the following link. https://www.graftstudios.co.uk/store/p/tide-turners-the-gathering
Come and celebrate the season with us as GRAFT members take part in their first group exhibition together and explore ‘What we do in the Winter’ as individuals, creatives, storytellers, ‘Customerrily’ and as Island dwellers.
There will be a mix of Visual and Conceptual work, Christmas Shopping, Creative Workshops and Gatherings. So you can stretch your thoughts, take part and support your local makers before hibernation.
Private View: Friday 27th Nov / 6-9pm
Exhibition: 28th Nov -13th Dec / 10-4.30pm daily
IW Creative Network Pre Christmas gathering: 10th Dec / 6-8pm
Our ‘What we do in the Winter’ question, will remain with us until Spring with workshops, events and gatherings popping up throughout January and February too.
Join Signwriter Emma Goss at Graft Studios in Sandown for a two-part workshop learning the art of reverse glass painting and create your own framed initial.
Emma will guide you through the process of this traditional craft. Plenty of practice time is built in where you will learn brush control and the basics of letter formation.
Session one will take place on Thursday 3rd December 10:00-12:30 - we will finish the black outlines during this session.
Session two will take place on Friday 4th December 10:00-12:30 - allowing the outlines time to dry, this session will involve filling in the initial with your colours of choice.
Following the two sessions, your artwork will be framed and ready to collect the following week.
These initials make the perfect Christmas gift, or pre-Christmas experience for you and a friend!
Contact emma@tuesdaysunshine.co.uk or follow the Eventbrite link to book!
Norwood Print are offering Monthly Screen Printing Workshops at GRAFT in the Common Room (Downstairs/Accessable). All materials provided and small group sizes guaranteed.
Running the last weekend of each month, Saturdays are project based learning and workshops suitable for beginners and Sundays provide open access printmaking facilities and support.
Visit Izzy’s Eventbright page to see full listings for each months planned activities and booking.
If you have any questions or particular project you have in mind, do email norwood.print.iw@gmail.com.
Aimed a building expression, skills and confidence for beginners, and those who may be nervous or are returning to art as a hobby after a long break. A sociable, relaxed and informal group class with a maximum class size of 8 to ensure learners receive ‘one to one’ tutor support and plenty of room.
Learners get to experience working in a space specifically designed for creative use. Priced at £25 per session / £250 for the term. Easels, boards and essential art materials provided.
Subjects vary and include form, colour, line, texture and tone and encourage expressive line and mark making as well as improving traditional observational drawing and painting skills.
Tuition is sold in blocks based around standard term times and holidays.
Jan -March Term: Jan 7th - March 18th (10 weeks) 10am-12pm (2hrs) / Thursdays at GRAFT STUDIOS. (Half Term Thursday Feb 18th)
Tutor: Emma Souter
These sessions are suitable for all skill levels, from complete beginners to those looking to continue their professional development (CPD) and refine existing skills. Each participant works at their own pace, with Gareth providing tailored, one-to-one guidance throughout. These classes are for anyone looking to slow down, work with their hands and enjoy learning a traditional craft in a relaxed, supportive environment.
Tuition focuses on traditional upholstery techniques such as webbing, stuffing, and hand stitching, with an emphasis on understanding materials and methods as well as developing practical skills. Whether starting from scratch or building on prior experience, learners are supported at every stage.
Available as half day bookings, classes are booked in blocks of 4 -6 weeks (£45 per half day session).
Wednesdays
PM Session: 1-4 / £45 / £180 Total for 6 weeks.
Next Block : Nov 4th- Dec 9th
Learners develop their skills over time. As every project is different, completion within a single block cannot be guaranteed. The focus is on quality, learning, and enjoyment rather than rushing to the finish.
Participants are encouraged to bring along a small piece of furniture to work on. Gareth will assess each item beforehand to ensure it is suitable, helping to guide learners expectations and progression.
Fillings and materials are not included in the course fee, giving participants the flexibility to choose fabrics that suit their own style, project and budget. Gareth will supply traditional fillings and essential upholstery materials at cost and is happy to advise on sourcing everything required.
All essential tools are provided for use during the classes, so participants can get started straight away. Those who develop a passion for the craft may choose to invest in their own toolkit over time.
Classes provide a welcoming, social environment where people can unwind, learn a valuable heritage skill and take pride in transforming something with their own hands.
Enquiries please email: graftstudiosiow@gmail.com
Past Events
