BlueJam Arts Space is a light and airy complex of community rooms, art rooms and music spaces based in the centre of Penrith, close to the M6 and A66. We use our space for our workshops and events but it is also available for hire, for everything from one-to-one music lessons, meetings and seminars, as a studio space, recording studio, art gallery – and more!
About Our Space
Facilities: We have a kitchen with tea and coffee making facilities (please bring your own tea/coffee – or if you prefer there is a nominal charge to use ours) and a microwave/small fridge. There are toilets on the ground floor. We have wifi throughout the space.
Address: BlueJam Art Space, Mostyn Hall, Friargate, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 7XR
Equipment: We have ample chairs, tables and cushions, as well as a projector and flip chart which can be booked separately. We also have a huge array of musical instruments and recording equipment, including a gamelan, keyboards and drums – please enquire for more information. We are able to provide music stands.
Parking: There is limited parking behind the space for one or two cars. We are a one minute walk from the nearest public car park.
Disabled access: We have a ramp to access the large downstairs room (there is one step into the building). The stairs to the first floor are wide and shallow. Unfortunately it is an old building and therefore there are currently no disabled toilet facilities.
Availability
We currently have good availability for all of our spaces, including in the evenings and at weekends. You can book a room either as a one-off or on a more ongoing basis (e.g. once a week for peripatetic teachers, or a shared artist workspace on a monthly basis etc).
ROOMS – FIRST FLOOR
Gamelan Room
This light and airy room houses our slendro bronze gamelan, Dwi Gambira Sari and a small shadow puppet theatre.
We currently use it for gamelan workshops and play for wellbeing sessions.
Open plan meeting and performance space
Dragon Gallery
The dragon gallery gets the afternoon sun and is a lovely space for small meetings with a large table and chairs and gorgeous artwork on the walls. It is also increasingly used for art sessions by different groups.
Singing Bowl
This medium-sized room is now the BlueJam Office but it has a wonderful acoustic and we also use it for singing and instrumental tuition. With beams and low windows it is an interesting space, with stairs down into it from the Dragon Gallery.
It has a good keyboard set up permanently.
Box Studio
This small room is set up as an office with chairs and desks but it also has a good keyboard and is used for piano and other instrumental tuition.
FRONT ROOM – GROUND FLOOR
The largest room in the Space, we currently use it for small gigs, orchestra practices, Improv Choir and Folk Group sessions. It is regularly booked for workshops of up to 20 people, conferences and meetings.
It has a lighting rig, PA, good keyboard, drumkit and backline ready set up, plus it houses all the samba drums.
It is accessible through the front door with a wheelchair ramp into a wide entrance hall with tables and comfy chairs.
PRICES
One-to-One tuition
£5 per hour
Included:
– Access to a teaching room with a keyboard, music stands and chairs
– Use of the kitchen facilities
Meeting, Seminar or Rehearsal
£12 per hour
Included:
– Access to your requested room
– Tables and chairs
– Access to the kitchen facilities
A projector can be booked for a small additional charge
Artists’ Shared Workspaces
We do not have any lockable spaces available any more, but some artists come in and work in the gallery or adjoining rooms, for the company and access to a creative working environment. Get in touch for more details.
Recording Studio
Josh Jackson works from a studio in the Space – get in touch if you would like to book a session with him or are working on a project and need an engineer.