Featured Stories
Would you like to run an empty shop project in Bedford? Monsters of Bedford made Final Shortlist for Drawing Inspiration Awards The Castle Quay Weekender
 
Would you like to run an empty shop project in Bedford?

Would you like to run an empty shop project in Bedford?

Last year we worked hard to transform some empty retail units in Bedford. We think we did a good job and we’d like to offer the opportunity to others to have a go. We are making small grants available to groups or individuals with the energy and passion to make creative use of the empty [...]

Monsters of Bedford made Final Shortlist for Drawing Inspiration Awards

Monsters of Bedford made Final Shortlist for Drawing Inspiration Awards

Following the success of the Monsters of Bedford ‘Big Draw‘ event in October last year we decided to enter into the Drawing Inspiration Awards. These awards recognise the Big Draw activities that were most innovative and creative. Now the bad news is we didn’t win. But the good news? We gave the judges a hard [...]

The Castle Quay Weekender – A Year On

The Castle Quay Weekender – A Year On

It is hard to believe that 12 months have passed since the Castle Quay Weekender took place in the seven empty shops in and around the Cultural Quarter of Bedford. The weekend of 19 – 20 March 2011 attracted over 4,000 people to Castle Quay offering everything from live music to crafts, wine-tastings to comedy, [...]

Buy Bedford By Bedford: The Pop Up Emporium is here!

Buy Bedford By Bedford: The Pop Up Emporium is here!

08 December 2011

Open until the 17th December the Pop Up Emporium is a shop stocked exclusively by Bedford made or designed goods. Entirely volunteer run we exist to showcase the very best of Bedford talent and to offer local makers, designers and creatives an route to market. We have transformed an empty retail space into a winter [...]

Read the full story

Posted in Empty Shops Project, Pop Up Shop2 Comments

We Are Bedford Enters Bedford Christmas Tree Festival.

We Are Bedford Enters Bedford Christmas Tree Festival.

08 December 2011

Bedford is one of those towns that can really surprise you. Bedfordian’s everywhere are busy creating little slices of magic for the town with little fanfare or fuss. Jude Cottam is one of those people. For 7 years she has put on the Bedford Christmas Tree Festival in St Paul’s Church in the heart of [...]

Read the full story

Posted in Bedford Christmas Tree Festival0 Comments

Ukulele Workshops blow off the cobwebs of our empty shop….

Ukulele Workshops blow off the cobwebs of our empty shop….

13 November 2011

This weekend we opened the door to our Pop Up Emporium for a series of ukulele workshops for families and grown ups. Ukulele tutor Sue Snell, author of the book ‘Uke and Sing’ taught 20 willing participants (who ranged in age from 2 to over 50) a range of simple songs to set them on [...]

Read the full story

Posted in Empty Shops Project, Pop Up Shop0 Comments

The Big Monster Draw

The Big Monster Draw

13 November 2011

Approximately 200 people (and one dog) joined us on the 22nd Oct for our Monster ” Big Draw” event in our empty shop in Castle Quay Bedford. Seven Bedfordshire Illustrators were on hand to help artists of all ages develop their creatures through drawing, stitching, cutting and sticking and more. We were all blown away [...]

Read the full story

Posted in Empty Shops Project, Monsters of Bedford0 Comments

Pop Up Emporium Prepares to Open

Pop Up Emporium Prepares to Open

13 November 2011

We are returning to Castle Quay with a very special pop-up shop. Opening its doors on 19th November, the We Are Bedford Pop-Up Emporium will showcase the very best in Bedford’s crafters, makers, designers and musicians in time for Christmas. This weekend we blew out the cobwebs with a Ukulele workshop while we prepared the [...]

Read the full story

Posted in Empty Shops Project, Pop Up Shop2 Comments

WAB t shirts

Pop Up Shop – Call for Collaborators

09 October 2011

Are you a maker or crafter that would like to develop ways to sell your work? We will be opening a pop-up shop in Castle Quay in the run up to Christmas and we are looking for a dedicated group of crafters and makers to come on board. This is a development opportunity. We are [...]

Read the full story

Posted in Empty Shops Project, Pop Up Shop1 Comment

The Monsters Are Coming…

The Monsters Are Coming…

09 October 2011

Join us to create ‘Monsters of Bedford’ at The Drawing Room at 22 Castle Lane (formally known as the Bridal Boutique in Castle Quay) from 11am – 3pm on Saturday 22nd October 2011. As part of the Big Draw 2011, people of all ages are invited to join professional Bedford illustrators Katy Dynes, Alasdair Bright, [...]

Read the full story

Posted in Monsters of Bedford2 Comments

A Drawing a Day: A pop up exhibition by David Litchfield

A Drawing a Day: A pop up exhibition by David Litchfield

04 August 2011

Last year, illustrator David Litchfield decided he needed a challenge. So, on 1 July 2010 he embarked on a mission to create a drawing a day for an entire year. Each day, David posted a new drawing on his blog and Facebook and as word spread so did his following. Over the last 12 months, [...]

Read the full story

Posted in A Drawing a Day Exhibition, Empty Shops Project0 Comments

Hidden Bedford

Hidden Bedford

15 July 2011

The first Hidden Bedford Event is part of Bedford Busking Festival, 23 – 24th July 2011. There will be all sorts of musicians and performers all over town, and of course Hidden Bedford will be there. We’ll be doing a QR Code Tour of Bedford’s Oldest Streets. The tour will take us on a short [...]

Read the full story

Posted in Bedford Busking Festival0 Comments

Echo-location comes to Bedford!

Echo-location comes to Bedford!

15 July 2011

What does Bedford sound like? Is it the noise of traffic or the tranquil of leafy parks? You can find out by adding your sounds to a new sound map of Bedford. Commissioned by local organisation, Bedford Creative Arts, the sound mapping project is called Echo Location and has been made by artist and musician [...]

Read the full story

Posted in Bedford Busking Festival0 Comments

Photos on flickr

We are tweeting