The studio was started by a group of innocent early-20-somethings, with a love for culture in our hearts and time on our hands. It opened in April 2012 through a grant from KCC's Small Community Capital Fund and was initially only going to be private studios for individual artists. It took a bunch of individually skilled and enthusiastic contributors volunteering and plugging in to the idea to make it happen. We restored a 2 storey building from a hairdressers into a studio, gallery and cafe, and opened doors to our first weekly programmes with the jam night and life drawing class. 

​The journey since then has involved a heck of a lot of people, creatives, professionals alike. 

We have used the space for exhibitions, talks, film screenings, private parties, gigs, launches. And we keep a series of events which we hope add some creative leanings to your usual nights out. Poetry, comedy, jazz, live music, Soul, now the lovely late night cafe and micro-pub ales and ciders to top it off. It's been a great ride and we love to be able to be here doing it. 

The aim has always been to do things for artists, and inspire culture in sub-cultures, as well as to be able to get up and act as artists ourselves. A valued part of the studio, for example, is the membership system which connects us to many local artists we can call on to take workshops, show work in exhibitions or play gigs. We set out to build a place that represents creative culture the way we see it, and to house and connect local love - relaxed and informal, yet proactive and inspiring.

Everything you see at Stepping Stone Studios is the result of people who have got involved along the way, and got their hands dirty to help make it happen. We love everyone who's made their mark on the studio and always welcome new people to the scene.