It has been a great 2025, what a wonderful way to close it out and welcome in the festive season, the Winter Open Studios was a really special time…the wreath making workshops have been so popular, we will definitely be bringing them back 2026

At this time of year, community spirit shines brightest. Glen and Darren of Stalybridge Construction are carrying forward the meaningful work originally started by Lorraine, ensuring that children within our local area don’t wake up on Christmas morning without a gift. It’s a situation many of us struggle to imagine, yet it remains a reality for some families.

We recently met Glen and Darren in the car park here at Woodend Mill in Mossley, where both our businesses are based. They were eager to ask for our individual support in this year’s Christmas toy appeal. Naturally, we were more than happy to contribute — but we also felt it was important to help raise awareness more widely.

It’s impossible to imagine life without music — those songs that take you right back to the moments that shaped you.

We’re excited to welcome performing arts students from The Manchester College to our Open Studio Weekend!

Kieran (right) & Logan will be performing two stripped-back acoustic sets each day on Level 2, Mill 2. We can’t wait to hear them as they begin their musical journey. Their first set starts at 12noon each day…be sure to catch the performance.

Making a difference, we are only just getting started with an itinerary that is filled with opportunities for so many and we are ourselves exited to be embarking on this journey. Art, creativity, community and wellness, enjoying the environment we share and making it a better experience for all is the mission. This project delivers for studio holders, fellow artists and creative practices, local community, young people in search of some shared creative experience…everyone is welcome.

We know we will need a lot of help along the way and we will work hard to ensure any investment in us, no matter how small, is a force for change.

We look forward to changing, shaping the creative landscape at Woodend Mill, Mossley for the better and welcome the support we will receive along the way.

We are delighted to welcome the magic of Phantasmagoria to Woodend Mill, Mossley.  Follow their mission to Manchego Moon and enjoy the story unfold over the next few weeks.  You can then join their charming, whimsical and utterly delightful flight through the mill over the Open Studio Weekend.  Follow the clues and find the 10 letters hiding with the Mousicals, hear the song, sing along and when you have solved all the clues make your own magical character with Phantasmagoria in their Pop-Up studio on Level 3, Mill 1.  The magic is about to unfold and spark the imagination of all who follow along.  This is a wonderful experience for young and old and we look forward to welcoming you to the magical world of Phantasmagoria…whatever you imagine…it is bound to be better!

Local artist Susan Aggarwal and her young students have been busy preparing for the Open Studio Weekend on Saturday 6 & Sunday 7 December, including building a very special snowman! Visitors can explore the Young Artists Exhibition on Level 3 of Mill 2, enjoy inspiring local art and craft, and take part in hands-on activities — all free to enjoy. A perfect way to support local talent, meet your neighbours, and kick off the festive season!

We throughly enjoyed our visit to Northern Contemporary Craft Fair and the wealth of craftsmanship on display. We are looking forward to developing our own program here at Woodend Mill, Mossley and seeing what we can offer in the future to promote, support and develop crafts and in particular heritage crafts.

We are launching a Young Artists Program aimed at providing opportunities for artists over 16 to gain free training from professional artists, studio time and free life drawing and other experiences to develop their skills. We will also offer professional exhibition for the works produced.

Room Hire - a pleasant, light-filled room with tea/coffee making facilities, fast fibre broadband and breakout room. The setting next to the River Tame makes it a particularly beautiful space, we have onsite parking and good transport links. Food and catering can also be arranged by separate agreement if required. We can also arrange to have the room decorated if your event has a theme.

If you or anyone you know is looking to hire a space to host an event we offer half or full day rental. Suitable for hosting meetings (boardroom set-up available), workshops and parties. If you are interested in hiring the room please get in touch with Annie on 07583 457849

We are a group of individuals artists and practitioners with a shared view of promoting art and culture in our local community.

We are on a mission to make art accessible to as wide an audience as possible to remove any barriers to viewing, making and enjoying the visual arts and are seeking to engage with people in art forms of all kinds.

It is going to be a fun journey and we welcome you along, not just for the ride but for the pleasure and development it offers.

It was lovely to enjoy a trip to Paris and take in a few exhibitions. The David Hockney 25 exhibition at Louis Vuitton Foundation on the outskirts was well worth the additional effort. Not only are the building and grounds a delightful oasis of calm but the exhibition represents Hockney’s work across his career. Of course he continues to practice, but it I feel the next exhibition on this scale is likely to be a retrospective. In truth it actually felt a little like a retrospective, one he curated…a little like planning a funeral I guess. Anyway it was a beautiful, all-encompassing exhibition and one that will live long in the memory of many.

Volunteers wanted...Can you give just 1 or 2 hours for the next Open Studio Weekend at Woodend Mill, Mossley?  We are looking for volunteers to help direct visitors to our Open Studio weekend, planned for late November/early December 2025, 10am to 4pm Saturday & Sunday.  If you have ever visited Woodend Mill, you may know it can be a challenge to make your way round all the studios.  We think a point of welcome where people can collect a map for the event and be given information about how they can get involved will help them enjoy their visit more.

Do you have 1 or 2 hours to volunteer for our next Open Studio Weekend? If so, you will be looked after with hot drinks and food.  You will be based on the ground floor...so no steps to navigate (unless you like the exercise). We will also get official t-shirts printed so people know who to ask for help during their visit.

If you would like to join us as part of the team for future events, please email hello@woodendstudios.co.uk or call 07583457849

Thank you to Susan Aggarwal this video of some of her young studios artwork. These young artists study with Susan at her studio on Level 3, Woodend Mill Two. As part of the Open Studio Weekend; Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 August their work will be on exhibition the mills will be open from 10am to 4pm with many artists exhibiting their work. Everyone welcome, free entry we look forward to welcoming you.

New artist studios at Woodend Mill, Mossley, these delightful studios have great light and overlook the river Tame. The perfect size for personal practice and you will be part of a large community of creative individuals who together make a powerful impression.

It may only be in its second year, but Saddleworth Art Trail has a formula that seems to ensure it will be a date in the calendar for many more.

Established and run by local artists, there is an honesty and integrity that resonates whether you just want to meet and talk with artists in their studios, are looking for an original work of art or a thoughtful hand-crafted gift it will delight.

What a delight it was to meet so many visitors to the Open Studio Weekend, we wish to thank each and every one of you for taking the time to share a few hours with us.

Thank you to everyone who opened their studio and our invited exhibitors, we hope you all enjoyed the weekend.

Finding your way round the studios open for the weekend will be delightful with this beautiful map by Rachel Wood (Pattern Maker Studio). Thank you -x-

It is no secret that we are passionate about art, craft, creativity for all and we feel privileged to support young artists in a meaningful way. The work by our young artists is just being prepared for the Open Studio weekend and it is looking fabulous.

Studio holder Susan Aggarwal worked with Year 5 Children at St John’s Primary School, Failsworth on the Art Project for the next Open Studios.

Children explored the Textures and background colour of Sunsets, coastal beach areas, ocean effects and landscape using acrylic paint, sponges and palette knives.

It was lovely to spend a few hours wandering through the many artists at Manchester Art Fair 2024. Lovely to talk with artists and share experiences as we move forward with the cohort at Woodend Mill. Very enjoyable day, I also got to see some work by my tutor, which was on display as part of the college stand. The Source of Trouble was a lovely little jewel amongst so much wall art.