From October 2019, it will welcome creative arts organisation Arc; who will be re-locating to the second floor of the museum from their current premises in Reddish.

Arc is a creative arts organisation, specialising in workshops and events, arts for wellbeing and community development. They provide support for artists and run participatory art and making activities for a range of people, groups and families.

Cllr. Kate Butler, Stockport Council Cabinet Member for Citizen Focus & Engagement said “Our vision is to put Hat Works at the heart of Stockport’s creative and cultural community and this new partnership with Arc is an important first step. We have developed a mutually rewarding relationship with them over the years, most recently with the acclaimed ‘We are Dreamers’ exhibition at the War Memorial Art Gallery as part of the WW1 centenary commemorations. We are looking forward to developing our partnership and having them share space with us at Hat Works”.

Arc’s Artistic Director, Jacqui Wood added “The team at Arc is delighted by the prospect of being based at Hat Works. Last year we delivered projects to over 1500 people. Having an accessible town centre base will mean we can engage more people in our creative programmes, to connect them with Stockport’s cultural offer and to develop a hub for arts and wellbeing”.

From their new home at Hat Works, Arc will continue to offer programmes to vulnerable adults and young people, Saturday Art Clubs, public courses, opportunities for local artists to network and build skills and a wide range of partnership projects.

Jacqui added ‘We are looking forward to working with the Hat Works team to increase audiences and participation and to make the venue a real success. After more than 20 years in existence, this is an exciting, new chapter in the Arc story.

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