Live music grant for Hylands Estate 

Hylands Estate has been awarded a £12,000 Arts Council grant to support a two-year programme of live grass roots music in The Stables courtyard during the Open Estate Sundays. 

The ‘Supporting Grass Roots Live Music’ grant will provide a platform for budding local performers programmed by Hotbox Live and will allow these performances to continue for the next two years.  

A platform for local talent  

Hotbox, a community trust organisation, promotes live music and works in partnership with Hylands to give local grass roots music performers a paid platform. They’ll be putting together a programme to introduce new talent to the stage on Open Estate Sundays when Hylands House is open to the public and a farmers’ market takes place in the grounds of the historic estate. The next Open Estate Day is Sunday 17 July where jazz trio, Zak Barrett and Friends, are performing at 11am-1pm and Jack Valero, singer-songwriter, will be on at 1.30-2.30pm. 

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“I am so pleased that local musicians will continue to perform in The Stables courtyard on Open Estate days. Support for the arts is vital if we want our city to continue to be a vibrant, inspiring and more connected place. Giving talented musicians the opportunity to introduce their sound world to new audiences in this beautiful setting is empowering for the artists and enriching for everyone.” 

Cllr Rose Moore, Cabinet Member for Greener and Safer Chelmsford

Hylands Artist Studios at The Stables  

The Stables is home to a community of artists and makers based in the converted 19th century stable block. The resident artists cover a wide range of disciplines, from contemporary glass to bespoke jewellery.

Many sell their work both in The Stables shop and from their own studios, and there are workshops running throughout the year. You can visit the ground floor studios between 10am and 3pm Wednesday to Friday. If there’s a particular artist you’re interested in, check with them before you visit to make sure they’re open – the artists and makers operate their own opening times and may be open to the public more often. The first-floor studios are open to private appointments only. However, on the Open Estate Sundays all studios are open to explore. 

Artists in focus   

Artists who occupy the creative spaces in The Stables include Mona Marnell, an established contemporary glass creator who makes bespoke glass art for residential and commercial spaces, Vanessa Brett Millinery who specialises in designing headpieces and hats for everyday wear, and Nicky Gayle, an illustrator who works in acrylics, watercolours and inks. As well as these, Tanya Krackowizer creates contemporary jewellery inspired from machinery, trees and architecture and Aaron Crowe captures natural moments and personalities through photography. 

To find out about all the artists and designers, visit the Hylands Estate website. 

Public opening

The artists’ studios are open to the public on Open Estate Days and special events like the Summer Series evening and Christmas shopping evenings. The Stables Café is open to visitors on weekdays between 10am-4pm and weekends 10am-5pm with daily breakfast and lunch options available. A selection of cakes, tea and coffee can be enjoyed inside and out of The Stables courtyard too.  

A second-hand bookshop, managed by the volunteers of The Friends of Hylands House, is also open for browsing from 10.30pm-4pm on Monday to Sunday.  Further details about The Stables can be found on the Hylands Estate website. 

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“It has been wonderful to see The Stables welcome even more creatives as it becomes increasingly established as a performance space for musicians. It’s already well known as a hub for artists and a great place to visit on Open Estate days and now you can discover new music for free in the courtyard every month.”

Edward Price, Assistant Hylands Manager

Stay up to date  

To keep up to date with the events programme at Hylands Estate, go to: www.hylandsestate.co.uk/events and subscribe to the mailing list.  

The grant was awarded by Arts Council England National Lottery as part of its support for arts and culture.