Friends Community Hub

Palestinian art exhibition

A Quaker run multi-use community space, principally specialising in providing an affordable gallery venue to local artists and makers right in the heart of Darlington.

Facebook - @FriendscommunityHub

Information about hiring the space is detailed below, along with some highlights for 2023/4 and read about the background to creating this gallery space.  

The Community Hub space next to the meeting house on Skinnergate is one of the Area Quaker Charity's commercial properties (Nos 4 -7 Skinnergate) which also comprise:

* Quaker Business Centre (seven small business offices/creative studio spaces, rented on monthly licence agreements.

* Changes Gallery and Gifts (Shop space on a year licence)

* Indulgence Hair Salon (shop on longer lease)  

* The Old Schoolroom Studio (shared work space for artists & creatives) 

* Hub Studio (private workspace for one artist)

HIRE THE HUB
The shop space is available for hire by individuals or groups. Rates as below:

Contact: manager@darlingtonquakers.org

HIRE PERIOD

RATE 2024/5

NOTES

7 day

£200

First 3 weeks of the month

5 Day

£150

Last week of the month only

3 Day

£100

Last week of the month only

Full Day

£85.00

Last week of the month only

Per Hour 

£12.00

Last week of the month only

Booking notes

- NOTE:  PLI - All events open to the public require Public Liability Insurance in place. 

- Check the online calendar for availability - www.darlingtonquakers.org/room-hire

- Bookings can be provisionally reserved for one month.

- Please read the information for hirers document  - Hirer information pack 2025 (PDF)

- Then complete the booking form - Hub Booking form (docx)

- Bookings confirmed on receipt of the booking form. 

- Cancellation or changes require at least ONE MONTH notice. (The hire fee will normally be due if less notice given).   

A few of the Hub highlights...

A quick selection of the fabulous work from regular and one off exhibitors across the 2 years from water colours to textiles, wildlife art to oil landscapes, handmade crafted goods, Fair Trade and ceramics. So much talent from the local community on display. 

Darlington Creatives Market

In 2022 we launched the monthly trader market bring together talented local artists and markers to sell their work  

Creating a gallery ....

May 2022

A fabulous team of volunteers joined the call out to get the walls painted ready for the DBC Arts Festival where five talented local artists and designers exhibited their work. It launched the space, despite there being a lot more to do.    

Soon after the arts festival, a number of workshops, exhibitions and pop up shops followed. The bare concrete floor also got painted and the Hub gradually started to feel lived in...

2023 onwards

And so with the input of the Darlington Borough Council Town's Fund regeneration, the outside of the Hub was given a beautiful green make over, and the final piece in the puzzle (February 2024) was the hand painted sign board to set off our new slightly "Art Deco" look.

Definitely a transformation from tired shop to loved community space!