Eden Arts 2025 Round Up
As 2025 draws to a close, we thought this would be a good time to reflect on our achievements and look ahead to exciting plans for the next year. So, here we go....
Absolutely Barking- Artists in Residence
13 incredible artists came to Eden Arts HQ at The Old Fire Station, Penrith for one week in May, for a week-long creative deep dive - testing ideas, building sideshows, and pushing the boundaries of booth-based performance.
With guidance from the brilliant and boundary-pushing Adrian Schvarzstein, it was all about creativity, collaboration, and a bit of beautiful chaos.
These artists returned in October 2025 to further develop the shows. We look forward to presenting them to you in the future, watch this space.
You can see a snippet of what we got up to below thanks to our talented friend, Adam Reid of AJR Visuals.
Reimagining Carlisle with Dave Moutrey OBE, Alison Clarke, Jess Steele OBE and Matt Baker
Eden Arts brought together a group of cultural leaders and experts to help shape a visionary future for Carlisle in Cumbria. These sessions offered an open invitation for interested parties and the opportunity to join the converstaion for Bigger Picture’ project.
The outcome of these conversations will be released as a short film in 2026 that is currently being created by AJR visuals
Eden Arts x Blank Wall Assassins
As part of the Bigger Picture project Eden Arts collaborated and bringing a number of new pieces of street art to Carlisle with Blank Wall Assassins. two of these were completed in 2024 but the final trail of work was created earlier this year. With thanks to Ben at Blank Wall.
The Great Border City | A Business Improvement District for Carlisle
Eden Arts have been instrumental throughout 2025 in a campaign to bring a business improvement district to Carlisle- with animation, marketing and business support at it's heart. The ballot proved successful at the end of November and the BID will commence in 2026.
Picnic Cinema 2025 Withnail and I
Another sold-out year of a wet (but epic as ever) Picnic Cinema at Sleddale Hall showing Withnail and I in the very place it was filmed. 2025 saw 4 nights of screenings with the usual shenaningans of food, quiz, film and dancing.
Tickets for the 2026 event will be on general release in the new year for 17 & 18 July.
The Winter Droving x Penrith Sparkle
Unfortunately, the Winter Droving 2025 could not go ahead due to weather but thanks to Penrith BID we brought the Winter Droving procession to Penrith Sparkle- the annual Christmas light switch on in the town. The lanterns and fire torches headed up a parade of lit up tractors, bicycles and of course the big man himself- Santa!
Cine North- Rural Community Cinema
Cine North continues with over 50 venues. This scheme is about bringing the community together in rural areas through cinema events. But, it's not just about watching a film. It's much, much more. Friends, neighbours and families getting together in communities to share not only films but food, dance and whatever else these fantastic committies can cook up.
and lastly.....Happy Holidays!
From all of us at Eden Arts, we hope you've had a great 2025. We can't thank all of our supporters, big and small, enough. Our small but dedicated team of amazing staff, the freelancers that help us realise our events, the volunteers, work experience staff, board members and sponsors- we love you all.
We're looking forward to all the adventures we're going to have together in 2026.
