The Herts Book Festival is an annual festival for the benefit of the people in Hertfordshire. Our county is home to dozens of authors. Hertford and Ware alone account for more than 22 book clubs, at least 15 booksellers, two amazing libraries and tens of thousands of potential readers.

Our small committee of multi-taskers believe in the power of strong community spirit. Drawing our inspiration from the number of talented published authors we have on our doorstep, the Herts Book Festival is a free event for people of all reading ages and abilities - because we believe books are for everyone.

Come and join us to enjoy our local author market (40 local authors showcasing their works), talks, storytelling, the book exchange (bring a book, take a book), crafts, face... Read more

Summer is nearly here (honest!) and with that we bring you a wonderful, swimmingly creative Macramé Workshop.

Becky has split the workshop into two parts that can be worked together or separately.

Today's workshops focus on practicing all the basic (and some not so basic) macramé knots for a skills uplift!

In this morning workshop, our young artists will learn and revise a number of basic macramé knots to create a beautiful Seascape Wall Hanging which will be adorned with wooden sea themed beads.

Our knots for the day will be the Larkshead Knot, the Square Knot, the Alternating Square Knot, the Spiral Knot, a half hitch knot and an alternating half Hitch Knot and a Gathering Falls Knot!

This sea themed hanging will... Read more

Join local macramé artist Macramé Mummy Becky, for a fantastic day of mindful making.
Summer is nearly here (honest!) and with that we bring you a wonderful, swimmingly creative Macramé Workshop.

Becky has split the workshop into two parts that can be worked together or separately.

Today's workshops focus on practicing all the basic (and some not so basic) macramé knots for a skills uplift!

In the afternoon workshop, our young artists will learn some new knots including the Gathering Knot and the Half Hitched Knot to make Beautiful Mermaid key chain or bag charm.

The mermaid can be attached to the Seascape Hanging for extra visual effect or can be taken off and attached to a bag, purse, door (the list is endless!) Wherever... Read more

Get your May Half Term crafting in at Southern Maltings.

Younger children can choose from different stations set up with a selection of craft activities. This week the theme is Summer Sports.

We will also have playdough and small world play.

Snacks and drinks for parents and children will be available to purchase from our Café.

Get crafty and have lots of fun and leave the mess for us to clear up!

Suitable for ages 3-7. £3 per child. Children under 1 are free. We are running the Children's Craft Café on Wednesday 29th May at 10am and again at 1pm.

Please note this is a stay and play session for parents and carers to craft and play with their children and not a taught... Read more

This workshop is all about colour!

Taking the beautiful graduated tones found on commercial paint charts, this workshop will see the artists cut, collage and mosaic these charts to create a wonderful picture using hues and tones of the same colour to create a striking image.

Artists can be inspired by the colours to work on their own theme or pattern, or can draw inspiration by Julia's examples. This is a mindful activity that will see the time fly as the colours give impetus to new ideas and forms.

As always, Julia's philosophy is to help your children create art to keep forever!

Julia Fonnereau is a qualified art teacher, having taught art to all age ranges from primary to A level and BTec Art and Design. She currently works as a... Read more

In this drawing workshop, Julia will teach drawing skills to create clever artistic illusions.

Optical illusions are images or pictures that we perceive differently than they really are. Put another way, optical illusions occur when our eyes send information to our brains that tricks us into perceiving something that does not match reality.

When we put pen to paper we are always creating the illusion of a form. Julia will show how to make a drawing look 3-dimensional or how to draw an illusion of space or light or how to make something look different if perceived in different ways. Can a drawing be two things at once?

As always, Julia's philosophy is to help your children create art to keep forever and teach them skills to rework and use time and... Read more

Light Catcher Fused Glass Workshop
Join us and new tutor Laura Brooks-Payne to create your own Fused Glass hanging colourful light catcher.

In this 1 hr session, you will create a colourful square hanging light catcher to take away and keep forever.

We will use lots of different colours of sheet glass, frit (crushed glass) and stringers (threads of glass) to make our designs.

Laura will take the completed light catchers away to be fired in her kiln and they will be ready to collect a week later at Southern Maltings.

No previous experience or creativity is required because the glass pieces do this for you and Laura's kiln finishes off the magic.

This is a drop off creative session... Read more

Join us and new tutor Laura Brooks-Payne to create your own Fused Glass hanging colourful light catcher.

In this 1 hr session, you will create a colourful square hanging light catcher to take away and keep forever.

We will use lots of different colours of sheet glass, frit (crushed glass) and stringers (threads of glass) to make our designs.

Laura will take the completed light catchers away to be fired in her kiln and they will be ready to collect a week later at Southern Maltings.

No previous experience or creativity is required because the glass pieces do this for you and Laura's kiln finishes off the magic.

This is a creative session for older children and teenagers children age 11-14... Read more