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Modern Painters, New Decorators is an artist-led organisation based in Loughborough, East Midlands, UK, operating a purpose-built gallery, project space, artist studios, shop, and creative kitchen.

We believe artists play a vital role in shaping the places we live and the stories we share. Through exhibitions, workshops, events, and collaborative projects, we foster creativity, community, and long-term support for artists and ideas.



The Grand Opening

Saturday 6 September 2025, 10am–3pm








Modern Painters, New Decorators will open the doors to their new purpose-built arts venue on Aumberry Gap, Loughborough with a special daytime celebration on Saturday 6 September 2025. After seven years at Carillon Court Shopping Centre, the organisation has relocated to a permanent site that brings together exhibitions, artist studios, a shop, events, and a micro-bakery under one roof. The new venue is a shared space for creativity and community — built collaboratively, shaped by local voices, and designed to support artists and ideas long-term.



Pop-Up Bakery: Corita
10:00am – until sold out
Corita is a pop-up food project by Josie Jones, currently based in the kitchen at Modern Painters, New Decorators. Acutely interested in the stories that shape the food on our plates, and the conversations that happen over it, Corita will host a regular Saturday bakery from September. Visitors can expect a changing menu of baked goods, alongside coffee, tea and seasonal soft drinks.

Pop-Up Shop: Got Enough Books
10:00am – 3:00pm
Got Enough Books is a secondhand bookshop with a curated edit of titles based around culture and creativity, including art, food and photography. Expect contemporary publications and exciting rare and alternative titles.

Solo Exhibition: Jessica Ashman
10:00am – 3:00pm
Jessica Ashman is a multidisciplinary artist working across silk painting, animation and sound to explore ecology, identity, and hidden histories. Drawing on her Jamaican heritage and working-class upbringing, her installations combine archival research, personal storytelling and speculative worlds. She has exhibited with organisations including ICA London, Artangel, New Art Exchange and Animate Projects.

Group Exhibition: Studio at 17
10:00am – 3:00pm
Studio at 17 has been based in Loughborough for over 30 years, supporting a neurodiverse group of artists with space, materials and mentoring. Their exhibition in the Project Space brings together a range of new and recent works, including painting, drawing and graffiti from artists like Leicester’s Paul Dexter aka Caper.

Drop-In Workshops
10:00am – 12:00pm: Flag Making
1:00pm – 3:00pm: Creative Workshop
Start the day with a hands-on family workshop where visitors can make bold and joyful flags to mark the moment together. In the afternoon, there will be a relaxed creative session using a variety of materials — a chance to make something and spend time in the new space.

Open Studios
10:00am – 12:00pm & 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Visitors are invited to explore the artist studios — home to a diverse and talented group of local artists working across painting, textiles, illustration, sculpture, sound, and socially engaged practice.

Shop Launch
10:00am – 3:00pm
The newly reopened shop offers a first glimpse at what’s to come — featuring artist-designed products, commissioned print editions, and the beginnings of a meaningful new resource for the community.



This new venue has been made possible through the support of Arts Council England, our Crowdfunder supporters, Studio Atta Kwami, Charnwood Borough Council and East Midlands Airport.



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help build
it here.

Your donation supports the building work needed to open our new arts venue, support artists and continue to provide invaluable creative experiences. Read on to find out more.

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Expanding
ambition.

In 2025, we will open the doors to a new public arts venue on Aumberry Gap in Loughborough, near Pinfold Gate. After seven years at Carillon Court Shopping Centre, Modern Painters, New Decorators we have now left our previous venue. The project was started in 2017 by artists and makers with a connection to the town. An exciting opportunity has come up for Modern Painters, New Decorators to relocate and expand. The new arts venue will include a public gallery and learning space, artist studios and micro-bakery.

Build it here.

Work is currently underway at the 195 SQM site. The building will open to the public in 2025 with a programme of free exhibitions, creative workshops, celebration events, open studios, craft markets and coffee mornings. Modern Painters, New Decorators will continue to work in partnership with community groups such as Art Club, which works with young people, the local school Limehurst Academy and the charity Love4Life.
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