SPRINT Mill will be opening its doors and gardens to the public on Saturday, April 30, as part of an Arts Council funded photography and creative writing project.

Open from 11am to 4.30pm, the event is a rare and wonderful opportunity to see the amazing spot and as well as handling objects from the mill’s collection, there will also be the opportunity to find out what ‘cagmagery’ is and how to make artwork from it - and to get involved in some creative writing. And if that's not enough to whet the appetite there will be an exhibition of new work by two of the region's top ceramicists, Vicky Eden and Jan Goody; their Evocative Objects show runs inside the mill until May 2, and is more or less about exploring people's relationship with objects.

Sprint Mill is a building that has become an artwork in its own right. The gently restored mill is home to a lifetime's collection of artefacts built up over many years by owner Edward Acland. Stepping into the three-storey mill is absolutely fascinating and akin to entering an installation that immerses the visitor in the dusty history and meaning of objects. The quality of light emphasises and contrasts the natural textures and colours of the building and its artefacts.

Both Vicky Eden and Jan Goody work primarily in clay with the addition of other materials to express their ideas.

Jan was previously course leader in foundation studies and subsequently course leader for BA contemporary jewellery at the University of Cumbria and known by many Kendalians as the jeweller in residence at the Brewery Arts Centre during the early part of her career.

She uses the land as her resource, the geology, physical geography, biology and archaeology. Her micro sculptures are built from a mix of fine porcelain, earthenware, copper, iron, silver, titanium, stainless steel and lead.

Vicky retired as head of art at Casterton School in 2012 and has worked in the area as a potter and ceramist since 1976.

She looks at the power of objects to communicate ideas beyond words. To this end she has worked in terracotta, porcelain and a specialist black clay.

Much of the work is for sale in the usual way, but several pieces will be offered as an exchange where members of the public can barter with the artist in a non-monetary way.

To tie in with the open day, author of The Gathering Tide, writer Karen Lloyd, hosts a spoken word evening event, involving participants from Sprint Mill’s The Ark of Lost Things project and other Cumbrian writers, including the Brewery Poets.

An Evening of Spoken Word takes place from 7.30pm-10pm.

Sprint Mill is located just off the road between Burneside and the A6. However, access at the moment is only via Burneside as Sprint Bridge is still closed following December's floods.