Petit Fours
(30 October, 2025)
𧢠This weekâs âTop Pickâ @WeightmanPR: Emerald Green, Mineral Green
David Parr House in Cambridge presents Emerald Green, Mineral Green, a new exhibition bringing together thirteen contemporary artists, designers and makers to explore humanityâs intricate relationship with the natural world. This is the third iteration in an annual exhibition series, House Guests, which encourages new dialogues by inviting contemporary works into the interiors of a historic, working-class home. The exhibition features new commissions and significant works installed as âguestsâ throughout the House alongside its remarkable Arts and Crafts interiors, and extending into its garden spaces. The exhibition runs to 5 December. Entry is included with the tour of the House.
𧢠âWeâre chuffed to bitsâ, say makers of UKâs best black pudding
After a tense wait following judging at Harper Adams University on 4 September, National Craft Butchers have announced the winners in the 2025 National Craft Butchers Product Awards. Products were entered across nine categories, from traditional sausages to hot and cold pies, all assessed in blind tastings by a panel of industry experts. And the Best Black Pudding award went to Perrys of Eccleshall, in Staffordshire. Located just around 10 miles from the Stoke-on-Trent, locals are already keenly aware of Perrys Butchers and its Artisan Cookery School. Winners of countless awards, Perry themselves announced the win on Facebook, saying they were âchuffed to bitsâ!
𧢠Look Sharp
Derby-based Forbidden Planet International has announced that âlocal legendâ Liam Sharp is joining them at 38 St Peters Street on Saturday 8 November between 2pm and 4pm, and will be signing copies of Spawn Dark Ages Issue 1 and Savage Sword of Conan Issue 11. Sharp is a British comic book artist, writer, publisher, and co-founder/CCO of Madefire Inc. His comics art for DC has encapsulated horror; anthropology, myth and psychedelia; as well as hardcore sci-fi. He also illustrated the graphic novel SUPERMAN: WHERE IS THY STING? written by J.M. DeMatteis, and numerous other mainstream titles over his 30-plus-year career. Anyone purchasing a copy of Spawn The Dark Ageson 8 November will be in with the chance to win a copy of Gunslinger Spawn Issue 1 signed by Todd McFarlane â a comic-book creator, best known for his work as an artist on The Amazing Spider-Man and as the creator, writer, and artist on the superhero horror-fantasy series Spawn. The event coincides with the Autumn Book & Craft Market taking place in Derby Market Hall on the same day.
𧢠£1m generates an Appetite for three more years of cultural growth
Appetite - the organisation whose mission is to get more people in Stoke-on-Trent and the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme to experience, and be inspired by, the arts - has been awarded ÂŁ1 million as part of Arts Council Englandâs largest ever Creative People and Places (CPP) Portfolio. This will see ÂŁ42m invested in 45 programmes from 2026-29 across England, where involvement in arts and culture is below the national average. Appetite has been the Creative People and Places programme for Stoke-on-Trent since 2013; and this new funding will secure three more years of investment. Rachel Adams, Appetite Director said, âIt means Appetite can continue to engage and listen to communities and create impactful, incredible events and experiences in and for Stoke-on-Trent over the next three yearsâ. It will also build on the legacy currently being created as a result of Stoke-on-Trentâs centenary year celebrations.