PAST EVENTS
WEST
Children's Paper Folding Workshops
14 DECEMBER 2025, SEAGULL THEATRE
As part of her residency with Messums Creative, artist Kaori Kato delivered a series of six origami-based workshops across Lowestoft, working with adults, schools, college students, families, and the wider public. In partnership with Battery of Ideas and The Seagull Theatre, Kaori led sessions that explored the Japanese traditions of paper folding, structure, and transformation through accessible, hands-on making. The programme included an adult star-making workshop, two sessions with Year 4 classes (reaching 25 pupils per class), a presentation and practical workshop with East Coast College art students, a public drop-in session attended by over 40 people, and a free family workshop for children aged 8–14. Across all sessions, participants demonstrated concentration, resilience, collaboration, and perseverance, discovering how simple materials could support complex thinking and creative expression. College students gained insight into Kaori’s international career and practice before developing washi lanterns and scaling ideas into wearable forms, while school pupils and families worked collectively to create modular blocks, lanterns, and pop-up envelopes. The drop-in and family sessions highlighted the importance of open, visible, welcoming spaces in the centre of town, where making acted as a catalyst for conversation, connection, and wellbeing. The residency demonstrated the power of accessible materials, artist-led facilitation, and inclusive formats to inspire creativity, support social connection, and leave participants with skills and confidence to continue making beyond the workshops.
Drop-in Family Workshop: Pop-up Paper Envelopes
13 DECEMBER 2025, THE BATTERY
A drop-in Family Workshop with Messums Artist in Residence Kaori Kato. Paper was folded like a parcel to create a message envelope that unfolds in an instant.
Christmas Paper Star Workshop
10 DECEMBER 2025, THE BATTERY
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Porcelain in Print - Exploring Lowestoft Porcelain Through Printmaking
30 NOVEMBER 2025, SEAGULL THEATRE
This free hands-on printmaking course introduced participants to the ancient and continuously innovative art of Intaglio Printmaking.
The workshop specifically invited a playful approach to observing, analysing and responding to images of porcelain made at Lowestoft’s world famous factory between 1757 and 1802. Work created during the day will be collated published and distributed to participants as a collaborative group zine.
Led by Hugh and Lisa Davies from Paper-works
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Making Faces - An Introduction to Portaiture in Clay
23 NOVEMBER 2025, SEAGULL THEATRE
In this one day workshop participants will learn how to hand build the mask of a face with water-based clay. All levels welcomed as Valentina will teach you the fundamentals of portraiture and give you a step by step guidance of how to build the human face based on a photograph. We will be discussing the structure and characteristics of the face, how to simplify information and how to convey emotions in our work. This will be a fun and immersive insight into a day of figurative sculptor's life.
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Felt Making Workshop
26 OCTOBER 2025, SEAGULL THEATRE
Making course with Messums Studio's Lynne Heaton teaching the process of wet felting. Participants had the chance to create a landscape scene to understand the process followed by the chance to create their own design.
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Journeys Through Print - Coastal Memories & Expressive Markmaking
20 JULY 2025, SEAGULL THEATRE
This hands-on printmaking course introduced participants to the versatile and expressive potential of monotype; a creative print method which combines painting, drawing and print. During a playfully creative day with Edward Scott students explored new materials, techniques and ways of expression.
In partnership with the Seagull Theatre.
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Zena Holloway ROOTED Workshops
JUNE 22 2025
Messums East presented a programme of art and free activities in their marquee on Lowestoft South beach. Artist Zena Holloway explored working with grass and organic material. There was a range of activities on offer open to all, based around art and the environment.
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Watercolour Workshop with Francesco Poiana
SATURDAY 15 MAY 2025
A free en plein air watercolour workshop explored the expressive and fluid qualities of watercolour while capturing the movement, light, and atmosphere of the sea.
Set in a stunning coastal location, this immersive workshop encouraged participants to observe and interpret the natural surroundings, painting directly from life.
"I thoroughly enjoyed it. Teaching was excellent."
"It was such a well organised day, with all our materials provided by Messums and excellent instruction given by Francesco."
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Clay-Making Workshop with Mirka Golden Hann
TUESDAY APRIL 15 2025, SEAGULL THEATRE
Free one-day clay-making workshop led by celebrated ceramic artist Mirka Golden-Hann. Participants worked with white clay to hand-build and model a flat-back ornament featuring seated figures, inspired by the 18th-century "Pew Group" ceramic tradition.
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Watercolour Landscapes with Francesco Poiana
FRIDAY 13 DECEMBER 2024, BATTERY OF IDEAS, LOWESTOFT
Led by acclaimed artist Francesco Pioana, participants were shown how to make paints from natural materials and supported to use them in a watercolour landscape.
This community workshop was free and open to all skill levels and abilities and included a complimentary lunch.
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Julia Lohmann Seaweed Workshops
22 & 23 JULY 2024
In the Planet Positive tent at First Light Festival, Messums Creative & artist Julia Lohmann offered free drop-in workshops where they shared their passion for making, science, algae and the environment, demonstrating the materials and techniques for her seaweed sculptures.
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