This HVCA CREATIVE group began forming in March 2024. It currently consists of 20 members who live locally, spreading across many villages between Chinley and Grindleford.  We are all based in Hope Valley, either living or working here, or both.

We are a loosely woven diverse group centred around a broad spectrum of creative endeavours. Amongst us are artists of all stripes, writers, poets, filmmakers, naturalists, sculptors, movement therapists, curators, grief ceremony hosts, a theatre designer, a landscape architect and a museum director. We all deeply care about climate change and how we can creatively respond to our times with a combination of our skills and imagination.

We meet once a month in person. The location of our meetings varies from month to month. Members take turns in organising and hosting the meetings.

We call our current meetings ‘More than a Book Club’ which as the title suggests refers to the potential of us reading & reflecting on books together at our meetings, but not limited to that alone. So, those of us are also welcome to join us who do not wish to read books each month. We also listen to podcasts and read poetry and would like to go on more walks together.

A project we collaboratively hosted, joined in with was The Coat of Hopes during the summer. A pilgrim coat that travelled through Hope Valley carrying messages of climate emergency and the coat itself was being carried on the backs of people, literally being walked from place to place. We hope to share more about this in the near future, either via our blog or newsletter.

We also have ideas for a new collaborative project for 2025 that is just beginning.

If you live in the area and would like to join us, please contact us so that we can invite you to our next meeting and add you to our Creatives mailing list.