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Stories of arrival and belonging brought to life in Artweeks Takeover at Cornerstone

Published 28 April 2026

Cornerstone Arts Centre will host its first Artweeks Takeover this May, bringing a programme of exhibitions, installations and events to Didcot.

From Friday 1 May to Saturday 30 May, art will appear not only in the centre’s gallery but across the building, including its public spaces.

This year’s theme, “Stories of Arrival and Belonging”, brings together artists from across the county. Working in painting, sculpture, film, photography, ceramics, textiles and mixed media. They explore ideas of home, identity and connection through a range of personal and shared perspectives.

The main gallery exhibition will feature artists Amanda Benstead, Catherine Rye, Sue Chamberlin and Lin Dewsnap, offering a quieter, more reflective contrast to the activity elsewhere.

For one week, the auditorium will be taken over by SCRAPS, a queer art collective presenting its debut exhibition, reimagining fragments and overlooked materials into something unexpected and expressive.

Cornerstone Arts Centre has worked with Oxfordshire Artweeks for more than 15 years, supporting artists and offering free exhibitions throughout the year. This is the first time it has hosted multiple exhibitions on this scale.

Cllr Georgina Heritage, Cabinet Member for Communities at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “Cornerstone is a fabulous and welcoming community hub – you can see a show, take a class or just catch up over a coffee. The Artsweek Takeover is a great opportunity to discover Cornerstone, see something new, and connect with the stories behind the work.”

Esther Lafferty, Festival Director for Oxfordshire Artweeks added: “We’re delighted to see such a wonderful collection of artists coming together at Cornerstone for Artweeks. We hope the skill and talent on display will remind visitors about the incredible creativity that is often hidden behind closed doors and that all they need is a little curiosity!

“Hopefully, some visitors will then be inspired to have a go themselves, whether that’s simply finding pleasure in picking up a pencil at home or signing up for a pottery or printmaking workshop at Cornerstone.”

Key dates include:

  • 29 April, 7pm – Launch event and exhibition opening
  • 2 May, 2-5pm – Cyanotype demonstration in the study (free)
  • 2 May, 4-7pm – SCRAPS private view
  • 30 May – Artweeks exhibition closes

The exhibitions are free to view during Cornerstone’s opening hours. For more information and opening times, visit the Cornerstone website.