Derbyshire artists showcase visual arts, dance, music and poetry in Festivity at Chesterfield's Winding Wheel

The Winding Wheel will host activities and exhibitions under the banner of Festivity on February 21 from 10am until 5pm.

A digital exhibition will be held in the ballroom where the work of visual artists will be on show including Eva Juusola who won Derby Print Open 2025, exhibiting Analogue vs Digital. The contributors include Bernie Rutter & Vitor, Paul Johnstone, Small Print, Ray Gumbley, Nikki Dennett, Rebecca Morledge, Stephanie Sian Coley, John Bullock, Helen Swift, Mark Knight and Alice Marshall.

Arts and crafts workshops for all the family will run throughout the day with Level Centre, a contemporary arts space in Rowsley which is home to ground-breaking arts projects with learning disabled people.

Performance poetry and storytelling through verse will be presented by award-winning LGBTQ poet Dan Webber and Aoife O’Connor, the latter’s roots lie in slam poetry. Their half-hour presentations will start at 12 noon, 2pm and 4pm. Dan and Aoife co-direct Derby Poetry Festival.

Singer-songwriter Romy, who is 16, will perform a solo set in the ballroom at 1pm. Many of Romy’s songs have received radio airplay in the UK and internationally. During the last year she has supported Tom Hingley (Inspiral Carpets), Jack and Daisy, Gemma Rodgers, Andie Dee and Izzy Knight (UK tour) and was shortlisted to support Lucy Spraggan on her UK tour. Described as an artist to watch by Dean Jackson (BBC Introducing), Romy was the youngest person to ever receive a nomination in Radio Wigwam’s best female artist category in 2023.

Singer-songwriter Michael Vickers, who has played at countless festivals including Glastonbury and 2000 Trees, will be performing in the Chesterfield event at 3pm. Michael combines indie-rock, pop and heartfelt, anecdotal lyrics.

Alongside the above attractions in the ballroom, activities will also be held in the Winding Wheel’s function room.

Level Centre will host 30-minute dance workshops, starting at 10.30am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm.

Storytelling artists Julie Moss and Gabriella Gay will be sharing stories in 45-minute sessions starting at 11am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm. Their visit to Chesterfield is through Adverse Camber which is based in Cromford.

There’s free admission to Festivity but pre-booking is encouraged. You can reserve a place for the morning session 10am - 1pm, the afternoon session 1pm - 5pm, or if you want to stay all day, book both sessions. Go to www.chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk