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art & craft workshops Have a Go activities

‘Have a Go’ Craft Activities | Saturday 17th October 11am-3pm

Come and ‘have a go’ at a variety of crafts practiced at designermakers21 on Saturday 17th October 11am-3pm.

This seasons offerings include making-

Mini besom and smudge sticks, create a collaborative fantastical clayscape, pronto print and Lino cut printing, batik, mosaic, bead making and weaving.

There’s also be delicious refreshments. See you there!

Adults £5, Under 18s £2.50 to participate in as many activities as you like.

No pre-booking required, however at busy times you may be asked to wait before taking part in an activity. Some activities have time slots.

Location: ground floor and first floor studios at designermakers21

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Uncategorised

SAORI VIII – Weaving Exhibition | 5th – 26th November 2026

The eighth SAORI weaving exhibition at designermakers21. In the downstairs galleries from 5th – 26th November.

This exhibition brings together weavers from around East Anglia showcasing hangings and wall pieces, clothing, accessories and more!

Open Thursday, Friday and Saturdays 10am-5pm.

Location: dm21Gallery and the Elephant Room, ground floor, designermakers21

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Events Archive

WASH, PAINT, PRINT Exhibition | 24th -26th September 2026

Our Fixed Term Residents Andrew, Deborah and Deb are concluding their 3 month residency with an exhibition celebrating their work.

‘WASH PAINT PRINT’ opens on the 24th September and runs in the dm21Gallery on the ground floor at designermakers21, until 29th, open Thursday to Saturday 10am-5pm.
You are warmly invited to their Private View opening late from 6-8pm on Friday 25th September.

All works exhibited are for sale and you can find more in their studios. You can also meet the artists Thursday to Friday in the Gallery and in their studios. They have one week left in their residency.

Andrew Lee
In the summer months Andrew has been working on a collection of ‘plein air’ oil paintings, featuring a variety of East Anglian locations including our very own Diss Mere. He has a wide range of his final
paintings available in his studio and the exhibition. Andrew uses a quite unusual method in his work, combining ‘plein-air’ painting with an inspiration from his love for vintage landscape photographs,
and a passion for colour.

Deb Cousins
Deb is currently working on painting negative spaces, on canvas. Starting with a surface layered with paint, stencils and collage paper, Deb adds layers of white and block colour to create an image using
the colours below – a kind of reverse painting! Come and discuss experimental and exciting processes with Deb and see her fabulous outcomes.

Deborah Sedgwick
Deborah has been continuing her explorations of the laundry prop, domesticity and current issues through her paintings and smaller works in glass and on paper. She is currently working on an
abstract painted design, alongside larger works on canvas. Deborah’s thought process and techniques are complex and multi-layered. Come along and discuss the stages and concepts behind her work at her studio and the during the exhibition. Deborah has also joined Andrew in a bit of ‘plein air’ painting at Diss Mere.

You can visit the residency studios upstairs in the back building during designermakers21 open hours Thursday to Saturday 10am-5pm, chat with the artists, and see a range of work for sale. The space is looking really exciting, with some great experimentation and development of technique.

The 2026 Fixed Term Incubator Residency programme is supported with funding from East Anglia Art Fund (EAAF) and Diss Arts Society.

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showcase

Showcase Exhibition | August – October 2026

We are delighted to welcome three local artists in the Showcase for August, September and October.

You can visit the Showcase any Thursday to Saturday 10am-5pm upstairs in the main building at designermakers21. All works on display are for sale.

Displaying their work are Lisa Atsumi, Laura Bos and Kevin M. Holmes.

Lisa Atsumi

“I’m a local artist based in Norwich, deeply inspired by my travels around the world, especially my time in Japan. My work spans various mediums and textures, reflecting the diverse experiences and cultures I’ve encountered.

I have a particular passion for  working on old, textured fabrics. This unique canvas allows me to blend the old with the new, creating art that tells a story and evokes a sense of history and place.”

Laura Bos

“I use pyrography on wood and mixed media. Inspired by the beautiful countryside, the folklore of the seasons and the stories within the landscape. These maybe found objects that hold memory or fleeting moments when wildlife has touched the verse of the day all is spun into the piece I create.”

Kevin M. Holmes

“I would describe myself as an Assemblage Artist in that I take a number of redundant or discarded objects which I then assemble, making one main piece, which often has a practical use, in the form of a lamp. My aim is always to create something that is intriguing as well as aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Each piece is often accompanied with a totally fictitious, yet hopefully amusing account as to the objects original function.”

Opening times: 10am-5pm, Thursdays to Saturdays

Location: First floor Showcase Gallery at designermakers21

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Events Archive

Anglian Potters Pop-Up Ceramics Event  | 11th – 12th September 2026

Anglian Potters Pop-Up Ceramics Event  Friday 11th and Saturday 12th September 2026

designermakers21 are delighted to invite Anglian Potters to take part in the first Anglian Potters’ Pop-Up Ceramics Event hosted here in Diss, on Friday 11th and Saturday 12th September, 2026, 10am – 5pm.

The Event will take place in our two new galleries on the ground floor (there is one step / a ramp into each area) and outside in the courtyard. With work for sale by East Anglian based potters and ceramicists.

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Artist Information Event Events

Creatives Connect

Creative Connect is a welcoming network for artists, makers and creative practitioners working across Suffolk and Norfolk.

Designed especially for those working from home or in solo studios, the group offers a chance to connect with like-minded creatives for conversation, encouragement, inspiration and support.

Meeting every six weeks at designermakers21 in Diss, 10:30am–12 noon. Each session will begin with a short informal talk from a guest creative, followed by time to chat over drinks and cake.

Upcoming dates: 18th September, 30th October, 11th December, 22nd January

£5 per meeting includes refreshments and supports designermakers21 fundraising. No booking required.

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Events Archive

Heritage Open Days Workshops in collaboration with Winfarthing Anglo-Saxon Project | 19.09.26

Take part in FREE creative sessions with designermakers21 members, inspired by the Winfarthing finds and Anglo-Saxon life

Creative sessions at designermakers21:

  • Anglo-Saxon inspired bead making
  • Create an Anglo-Saxon stylized animal or figure in clay
  • Experience Anglo-Saxon Weaving: create a Community Cloth
  • Create a mosaic inspired by the Winfarthing pendant

Creative sessions at St Mary’s Church, Winfarthing:

  • Anglo-Saxon Inspired Embroidery
  • Make your own Anglo-Saxon inspired clay ‘cresset’ lamp
find out more
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Events Archive

Expo ’26 – summer open exhibition | 6th – 29th August 2026

Our summer open exhibition returns for it’s 6th consecutive year. Work by almost 60 East Anglian artists comes together to create a remarkable exhibition highlighting a cross section of diverse talents in our community.

We will be holding a celebration of this years ‘Summer Expo’ on Saturday 8th August, between 12-2pm, with drinks and nibbles, where you will be able to meet and chat with many of the artists.

Open Thursday, Friday and Saturdays 10am-5pm.

Location: dm21Gallery and the Elephant Room, ground floor, designermakers21

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Events Archive

Call for Submissions – Summer Expo ’26

designermakers21 will be hosting our sixth Summer Open Exhibition from August 6th to 29th. This year, the exhibition will occupy two spaces on the ground floor; we are delighted that this will ensure the exhibition is accessible to all.

Submissions are invited from artists and makers 18+, professional or amateur, in any medium. This will be a friendly, fun and inclusive event celebrating local talent, so why not come and make an exhibition of yourself!

For Entry Requirements and how to submit an artwork, please click here or read below.

Entry Requirements
  • 1 submission per entrant.
  • First come, first served, until we are full
  • There is a fee of £5 per entrant, payable upon delivery of artworks. This goes directly to support our charity designermakersCIO
  • Work is submitted at the artist’s own risk
  • Work must be delivered to designermakers21 on the 30th, 31st July or 1st August, and collected after the exhibition on the 29th August from 4pm, and before the 5th September
  • All items must be clearly marked with the artist’s name.
  • A note must be included with your name, title or description of your work, price of work, and your contact details so that your piece can be identified when you want it back!
  • Payment for sales will be by bank transfer, less 20% commission (plus 2% for card sales)
  • Placement of work in the exhibition is at the curators’ discretion
  • Work for the wall must come ready to hang with appropriate fixings, we advise d-rings and/or strong cord. We use a STAS system or nails to hang work.
  • We aim to be as inclusive as possible but retain the right to not exhibit an artwork that might be dangerous, offensive, or simply not fit through the door!
Submit your artwork

Please email the following details to joy@jhmosaics.co.uk and kateweltonceramics@gmail.com

  • Artist Name
  • Title or description of Artwork
  • Medium
  • Dimensions
  • Price or Not For Sale
  • Contact number and email
  • Image of artwork (if possible)

We look forward to hearing from you!

“Shelfanger Wood, Morning Light” by Becky Whatley, 2025 exhibitor
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Events Archive

Diss High School A-Level Art Exhibition | 26th June – 11th July

designermakers21 welcomes back Diss High School A-level art students, with another fantastic showcase of work.

Come and visit the exhibition from 26th June – 11th July, open Thursdays to Saturdays 10am-5pm.

Join the students to celebrate at the private view on Friday 26th June from 4-6pm, all welcome.