KENDAL'S cultural quarter will be a hive of activity this weekend as the popular The Factory hosts a Open Studios weekend.

On Saturday and Sunday (December 2/3) many of The Factory studios will fling open their creative doors, including an ArtSpace exhibition, which although entitled Small, features exhibits from some of the biggest names in the region's art world - Angie Mitchell, Marion Kuit, Lynda Gray, Tina Balmer, Tracy Levine, Sally Toms, Nancy Gray, Annie Coxey, Paul Girling, Pam Williamson, David Penn and Matt Butler.

Elsewhere at The Factory, Claire Griffel hosts her second fundraising Exhibition of Art and Photography plus will be showing her children's book Quet-zal's Tail at Space2Create, and leading makers such as Jo Vincent (glass), Rebecca Callis (porcelain), Danny Clahane (sculpture), and James Howrie (paintings), are among those showcasing their work in their respective studios.

The Castle Mills site on Aynam Road also includes The Tap, with coffee and sandwiches and cakes, beer and wood fired pizzas all on offer.