New arts centre calls for backers in bid to beat the cuts in Greater Manchester
This article originally appeared on Culture24.
Greater Manchester group says arts and learning centre will counter cuts which have left creative venues facing "extinction"
Leon Patel has helped raise more than £35,000 towards a proposed new arts centre at Vale Mill in MossleyArtist studios, exhibition spaces, music and performance facilities and an independent cinema are among the plans for the proposed new site in Mossley, which has been funded by five partner organisations in response to local austerity measures.
“While the government has been making unfair cuts - squeezing arts, culture and creative learning to almost extinction - we have been thinking hard about how we can reinvest our skills and expertise to help feed creativity within our local community,” says Leon Patel, the leader of carnival arts charity Global Grooves and the owner of Bangdrum, a company responsible for music and dance workshops in schools.
“Our mission is to help to plug the hole in budgets and hopefully encourage young and old alike to join together, be creative, learn new skills and have fun.
“Tameside has long enjoyed a vibrant arts and cultural scene and we hope that the new centre will become a focal point.
“We are now keen to make connections with other local creative, community and third sector organisations to see how we can work together.”
A “hot-desking” space for creative groups and entrepreneurs to network in will be created at the Vale Mill venue, where a series of themed digital art installations, film screenings, free computing courses and a world music ensemble will be launched this month.
- Email leon@globalgrooves.org to find out more.
What do you think? Leave a comment below.
More from Culture24's Art section:
Artist's Statement: Bob and Roberta Smith on running against Michael Gove in the 2015 general election
Government announces £1.5 million to help Hull's Ferens Art Gallery host 2017 Turner Prize
Man wins Gallery Manager position after identifying mystery painting during job interview
