Upfront Gallery

Upfront Gallery is located in a rural setting, in a beautiful architectural award winning 17th century barn conversion.  The gallery, coffee shop and puppet theatre were also finalists in the 2008 Cumbria Tourism Awards for “tourism experience of the year”.

The Gallery holds around 10 exhibitions each year. The season includes paintings, ceramics, textiles and sculpture by artists from Cumbria and beyond.  The Gallery is also home to the Upfront Cumbrian Artists Open Exhibition, which takes place every year between January and February.  Around 150 paintings are selected by an independent panel of judges.

The Coffee Shop has an extensive menu of home made vegetarian food, complimented by a range of delicious  puddings and irresistible cakes.

The shop area stocks cards, jewellery, ceramics and gifts as well as a wide selection of puppets.

Upfront Puppet Theatre stages productions at Christmas, Easter and during the Summer.  The theatre space is an intimate 80 seat venue with it’s own separate entrance.  Performances are timed so that visitors may also visit the Gallery for lunch or afternoon tea.  All productions are created in house, at Upfront, with a new show created every Christmas to add to the repertoire.  Shows are popular with audiences aged four to ninety four, all children must be accompanied by an adult.  Tickets are £6:00. Upfront is also the home of the Stan Parker Marionette Collection (Stanelli’s Super Circus). A Heritage Lottery Award enabled Upfront to purchase the collection and keep it in the county. Upfront also offer one day school puppet making workshops which include a puppet demonstration followed by a session of puppet making. 

Opening Hours - Every day 10:30 am - 4:30 pm

Directions - M6 exit 41 and 3 miles along the B5305