AN ‘Artists Workhouse’ in Studley has received a £3,000 boost from local county councillor Clive Rickhard’s Warwickshire grant.
The centre, in an old needle factory opposite the Victoria Works pub, boasts ten studios and has already attracted top artists working on their craft.
The workshop is the brainchild of Studley resident Dawn Harris, who ran a similar project at Ragley Hall for two years.
“The feedback from visitors was that we were not very accessible at Ragley and I wanted to do something in a community instead so when this came up in the centre of Studley, well you can’t get more accessible,” said Dawn.
And she says the response from her fellow artists has been tremendous.
“Artists tend to work independently but bringing them together can result in a really create environment and we can all grow together, so we are very grateful for Coun Rickhard’s grant.”
So far the Workhouse has attracted a ceramicist, a textile worker, three painters and a printmaker and although Dawn says the centre is ‘definitely not a shop’ there is an exhibition area and a programme of workshops is being devised.
Dawn is also targeting Warwickshire Open Studios – from June 18 to July 3, 2016 – as an opportunity to showcase the work at the centre.
Meanwhile the grant from Coun Rickhards will be used to renovate a first floor area to create a kitchen and project space.
In the meantime an official opening is planned for January 2016.
