Aunty Social

Aunty Social is an amazing community arts organisation in Blackpool town centre. Visit the retail shop or take part in one of many activities held there.

• Find it at – 28 Topping Street, Blackpool FY1 3AQ
• Telephone – 07957 602790 – please mention you saw it on Visit Fylde Coast!
• Opening hours Thurs-Sat 10.30-5.30pm
• Please check before travelling

Inside Aunty Social

Aunty Social Community Interest Company (CIC) is a community arts organisation that gives people opportunities to develop their creativity, learn new skills and connect with others through positive art activities. It was founded in 2011 by a group of friends looking for fun, social and affordable creative events to attend in their home town.

In 2022, they opened their town centre premises on Topping Street, Blackpool, now home to their much-loved retail space. Previously, they were based at Coronation Street in one of the Winter Gardens retail units.

The Topping Street store is a treasure trove of unique and creative! Showcasing a wide range of products from over 60 local artists, makers and designers. There’s prints and original paintings. Jewellery, gifts, needlework, clothes, books and much more. Ideal if you’re looking for something different – or maybe a special gift.

Along with the retail space there’s workshop, activity and meeting rooms where scheduled events take place. These are organised by Aunty Social and by other local groups and organisations. You can also hire these rooms for your own events and activities.

More about Aunty Social Blackpool

Founded in 2011, Aunty Social is a community arts organisation dedicated to keeping Blackpool creative. It provides people with opportunities to develop their creativity, learn new skills and connect with others through positive arty activities. They coordinate a diverse programme of arts and cultural activities designed to bring people of all backgrounds together in a safe, supportive, gentle space. The shop stocks products made by over 60 local artists, giving them a presence on Blackpool’s high street.

Aunty Social is led by volunteers who identify as traditionally marginalised. Together they run a wide variety of visual arts and crafts projects. Plus the online arts and culture magazine Blackpool Social Club and Blackpool Film Festival. They are committed to offering well paid work and are accredited as a living wage employer as well as an Artists Union chartered organisation.

Top 100

In December 2024, Aunty Social was named as one of the nation’s 100 most impressive small firms by the Small Business Saturday UK campaign. We went to take a look and meet Catherine Mugonyi, one of the Directors –

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Following a nationwide search it was selected as part of this year’s SmallBiz100 line-up. It showcases 100 of the most impressive independent businesses from across the nation as part of the count-down to Small Business Saturday on 7 December 2024. Aunty Social was profiled by the national campaign across social media as part of their 100-day campaign. They also attended the House of Lords for a ‘Celebration of Small Biz 100’ event.

Running in the UK for over a decade, Small Business Saturday is the UK’s most successful small business campaign, taking place each year on the first weekend in December. It celebrates small businesses, encouraging consumers to ‘shop local’ and to support businesses in their communities.