Wide Open is a celebration of Paignton’s people, places and spirit. Join us to dream up, make and experience great creative and cultural activities where you live.
Wide Open is a celebration of Paignton’s people, places and spirit. Join us to dream up, make and experience great creative and cultural activities where you live.

Trio of Men - Instant Song Writing Workshop
Join Trio of Men for an intergenerational “instant” song writing workshop! These joyful, instant song writing workshops are open to all, whether you see yourself as musical or not - all ages and skill levels are welcome.

Devising Interactive Theatre: Object and Play
Join Theatre-Maker Nathan Charles for a ninety-minute exploration of how to devise interactive theatre through games and play.
Composing in Light
This workshop is suitable for anyone with a playful curiosity and interest in light, sound and technology. Artists from NooN collective invite you into the processes used to create their show 'Murmur'.

Make a Zoetrope
Bring pictures to life and create your own spinning Zoetrope. Visual artist Monica-Shanta will show you how to make a zoetrope from the early days of animation.

Spooky Splash
The brilliant people from Paignton Community Shed have been busy designing spooktacular shapes. Get ready for Spooky Season by painting your own weird and wonderful decorations to take home.

Creative writing sessions
A series of weekly creative writing workshops gently linked to the theme of ‘sky’ and led by poet & short fiction writer Zo Copeland. Guiding you through a series of prompts and exercises, Zo's workshops aim to empower you with tools and techniques to enhance your wellbeing and creative practice.

Strandline
Join artist/musicians Emma Welton & Steve Sowden for our last creative meet-up as part of Strandline - a creative project sharing our everyday stories & making something new for our town. All welcome - tell your story & get involved!

Creative writing sessions
A series of weekly creative writing workshops gently linked to the theme of ‘sky’ and led by poet & short fiction writer Zo Copeland. Guiding you through a series of prompts and exercises, Zo's workshops aim to empower you with tools and techniques to enhance your wellbeing and creative practice.

Creative writing sessions
A series of weekly creative writing workshops gently linked to the theme of ‘sky’ and led by poet & short fiction writer Zo Copeland. Guiding you through a series of prompts and exercises, Zo's workshops aim to empower you with tools and techniques to enhance your wellbeing and creative practice.

Strandline
Join artist/musicians Emma Welton & Steve Sowden for the last few creative meet-ups as part of Strandline - a creative project sharing our everyday stories & making something new for our town. All welcome - tell your story & get involved!

Creative writing sessions
A series of weekly creative writing workshops gently linked to the theme of ‘sky’ and led by poet & short fiction writer Zo Copeland. Guiding you through a series of prompts and exercises, Zo's workshops aim to empower you with tools and techniques to enhance your wellbeing and creative practice.

Strandline
Join artist/musicians Emma Welton & Steve Sowden for the last few creative meet-ups as part of Strandline - a creative project sharing our everyday stories & making something new for our town. All welcome - tell your story & get involved!

Creative writing sessions
A series of weekly creative writing workshops gently linked to the theme of ‘sky’ and led by poet & short fiction writer Zo Copeland. Guiding you through a series of prompts and exercises, Zo's workshops aim to empower you with tools and techniques to enhance your wellbeing and creative practice.

Picturesque Paignton
Full day workshop inspired by the coastline with artist Claire Jo Harmer. Start the day at the seafront, sketching out of doors then return to the Projection Room to develop sketches into paintings.

Handmade in Paignton
Join visual artist Monica-Shanta to create your own handmade ‘souvenirs’. Using a range of materials, Monica will be on hand to help you explore ideas and materials to make your own creative objects & images that capture treasured memories.

Walking-Wheeling-Writing Workshop
Join Zo outside for a walking-writing-workshop. We will walk and stop and Zo will guide you through a series of prompts and exercises along the way. We will explore our connections, memories, and feelings about the local area, and draw creative inspiration from what we encounter.

PRIDE Creative Writing Session
Join Zo for a standalone workshop on the theme of pride, specifically for those who identify as LGBTQIA+. Zo will guide you through a series of prompts and exercises as a starting point. We will explore our queer identities and histories, and how these are shaped by being in the local area.

Make a Zine with Zo
Join writer and doodler Zo Copeland for a family-friendly zine making workshop. Learn about zines, look at some examples, and either create one of your own from scratch, or use a ready to go template. Everything you need will be provided.

Make an audio greeting card
Make a card with an audio message for one of your family and learn new digital skills at the same time! Bring along an image that we can print or scan and show you how to get creative with it.

Made in Paignton: creative postcards
Join artist Claire Jo Harmer for this relaxed drop-in workshop for families, creating our own postcards inspired by the coastline, using a range of media. All ages welcome.

Un|Earthed: Workshop
Join artist Inez Aponte for this conversational workshop capturing people’s personal stories and facilitating conversatoins about identity, ancestry, home, migration and belonging.

Un|Earthed: Workshop
Join artist Inez Aponte for this conversational workshop capturing people’s personal stories and facilitating conversatoins about identity, ancestry, home, migration and belonging.

Audio Story digital skills workshop
Work with Sound Communities to make a personal audio card of your Paignton memories and learn new digital skills at the same time. No experience necessary.

The Tide: Painting workshop
Join artist Claire Jo Harmer, exploring the tide through intuitive painting. Drop in sessions 10am - 3pm. Try out painting techniques inspired by the coast with a wide range of media and surfaces.

Creative Writing Workshops
Weekly workshops exploring the seaside elements of our local landscape with writer and poet Zo Copeland. No experience necessary - whether you’re completely new to writing or a seasoned writer - welcome!

Strandline #2
A creative project in Paignton sharing everyday stories and making something new for our town. Join us for regular workshops throughout the Summer!

Community Weaving Workshop
Drop in Community Weaving workshop with May’s artist in residence who’s exploring nature within Paignton to create new work.

Strandline #1
A creative project in Paignton sharing everyday stories and making something new for our town. Join us for regular workshops throughout the Summer!
From creative events and activities, to unique spaces to test out and share your ideas, find out how you can get involved.
Wide Open is part of a major capital programme centred on Paignton Picture House made possible by the Cultural Development Fund. It will see the successful reopening of the historic grade II* listed landmark in 2025, one of the earliest purpose-built cinemas in Europe.