Arts and Culture in Hitchin, Stevenage and Letchworth

[SarahP990]

Hi Mumsnet, I'm moving from Kent to Hertfordshire and currently looking at three locations, Hitchin, Stevenage and Letchworth. I'm a freelance artist and so although a lot of my work is in London and I can access the city easily from all of these it would be nice to have a bit of a cultural scene happening where I live. Just wondering if anyone has knowledge of what's happening in these places, art scene, groups to be social with, workshops, council funding... anything is helpful at this point!!

Have a look at The Settlement in Letchworth. Loads of arts and crafts clubs, meetings & self-help groups, and other interests. There is also the Broadway Cinema, an independent which shows a wide variety of films, not just the usual. They do live screenings of ballet, opera etc too. Hitchin has the Queen Mother theatre, the Hitchin Thespians amateur dramatic group, and there's various choirs in both towns.

Direct trains into London, and also to Cambridge.

Stevenage has the Gordon Craig Theatre, but apart from that it is a bit of a cultural void (I can say that because I grew up there!!).

Having lived in the area for many decades, I'd suggest that you maybe start your research on Letchworth, then Hitchin.

Letchworth Garden City was the world's first garden city, and you would probably be interested in the history of the town and its founder Ebenezer Howard. He went on to design Welwyn Garden City later. Letchworth also has Britain's first roundabout! 😂

Two different councils, North Herts District Council and Stevenage Borough Council. No idea about arts funding though.

@SarahP990 There's also LALG - Letchworth Arts & Leisure Group.

This lot have some good exhibitions ... www.hvaf.org.uk