Kettering Civic Society has awarded its prestigious 2026 Silver Rose Bowl to Kettering & District Art Society and The Friends of the Alfred East Art Gallery & Museum, recognising their collaborative ARTworks shop, exhibition venue and workshop space.

The award was presented in front of volunteers and artists who gathered for a final celebration ahead of ARTworks’ closure at the end of the month.

Kettering Civic Society president Richard Barnwell praised the groups for their ‘outstanding’ contribution to the cultural life of the town.

Commending the ARTworks founders and volunteers as ‘worthy winners’ he praised the part they each play strengthening ‘Kettering’s sense of place and civic pride’.

ARTworks Kettering - winner of the Silver Rose Bowl Award from Kettering Civic Society /Monica Ozdemir /Alina Pavlak Jonathan Badger Chairman of KAGAM, Mayor of Kettering Cllr Lauren Glanfield, Ian Luck President of KADAS, Barbara Lewis, Richard Barnwell President of KCS and volunteers, Chris Dickenson, Tessa Bellamy.

placeholder image — ARTworks Kettering - winner of the Silver Rose Bowl Award from Kettering Civic Society /Monica Ozdemir /Alina Pavlak Jonathan Badger Chairman of KAGAM, Mayor of Kettering Cllr Lauren Glanfield, Ian Luck President of KADAS, Barbara Lewis, Richard Barnwell President of KCS and volunteers, Chris Dickenson, Tessa Bellamy.

He said: “It is so important to inspire our young people to stay in the area, and to support adults in their physical and mental well-being by creating opportunities to join groups, meet new friends, volunteer and feel part of a community.”

A special presentation was also made to Barbara Lewis, honouring her tireless dedication over many years and her central role in the success of ARTworks.

ARTworks started seven years ago, during the closure of the town’s Alfred East Art Gallery, after an approach from the Newlands Centre to Emma Buckler, Alfred East Gallery manager at the time.

She was offered a space within the centre to hold workshops and display artwork. She then offered jointly to the Kettering Friends of the Alfred East Gallery and Museum and Kettering & District Art Society (KDAS) the opportunity to organise a pop-up gallery for a few weeks to see what response it would have on visitors to the shopping mall.

Artworks Kettering - winner of the Silver Rose Bowl Award from Kettering Civic Society Jonathan Badger Chairman of KAGAM, Mayor of Kettering Cllr Lauren Glanfield, Ian Luck President of KADAS, Barbara Lewis, Richard Barnwell President of KCS and volunteers, Chris Dickenson, Tessa Bellamy /Monica Ozdemir

The original concept was to support the Alfred East Art Gallery and Manor House Museum with contributions towards conservation and collection purchases.

An immediate success, KDAS was immediately able to introduce 60 artists and exhibition screens were borrowed from All Saints Church, and an exhibition was arranged.

Helped by the ‘Friends’ charity status a reasonable lease was negotiated with the Newlands Centre.

KDAS president Ian Luck managed the artists, introducing new works and exhibitors regularly from the very beginning. ‘Friends’ Secretary at the time Barbara Lewis arranged and organised countless workshops and events for children and adults, liaising with the Alfred East Art Gallery.

They were then joined by Jez Carlisle who became ‘in-house’ carpenter constructing many displays. He was joined by Maddie Meninick who for many years organised the rota of volunteers. More recently they were joined by Sarah Yeomans and Daniel Kelly who organised more specialised workshops and the general running of ARTworks.

With the closure for updating of the Alfred East Gallery and Museum for the past six years, ARTworks was the only gallery in Kettering showing a selection of local artists' works.

ARTworks will close its doors on Sunday, September 27, 2026 – the Alfred East Art Gallery will re-open to the public on Saturday, October 24.