Support is needed from the business community to help an arts organisation convert a former town centre bank into a creative hub.
Urban Wilderness CIC, based in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, has taken a five-year lease on the vacant Barclays Bank building on The Strand, which has stood empty for three years.
The not-for-profit group hopes to eventually relocate their activities – including film clubs, creative workshops, talks, photography classes, the town forum, community lounges and mental health groups – from their current base in the Longton Exchange shopping precinct to the three-storey building. But it needs significant work to do done including heating upgrades and accessibility improvements such as a through-lift.
After initially opening up the ground floor space, Urban Wilderness CIC hopes to create meeting rooms, artists’ studios, a bar and a small performance area with a capacity of up to 50 people.
The organisation is behind events such as the popular Pig Walk, which brough 30,000 visitors to the town earlier this year.
The team would like to hear from anyone who may be able to offer skills, materials, time or sponsorship to help transform the building.
And they encourage residents and community members to voice what activities they would like to see in the new space.
Isla Telford, co-director of Urban Wilderness CIC, said: “This is a lovely building in a great location which is one of the gateways to Longton.
“It has been empty for three years but it’s in a reasonable condition. We need to make it accessible so that we can welcome all members of the community.
“We hope to be able to hold some of our activities in the new building in around six months’ time and we would be grateful to anyone who is able to help us make this happen.”
To get in touch, email info@urbanwildernesscic.com
