Thanks to @nelcouncil and their Activation Community Engagement Fund, we have been able to turn a vacant shop unit in Freshney Place into a space for our PEOPLE MAKE GRIMSBY initiative. Allowing What If We Create to provide a community art space in the heart of Grimsby’s town centre.
Cladding the Space
Our first task was cladding the existing shop walls with OSB to create a brighter, usable display area.
OSB supplied by @jordangotwoodltd Grimsby. Thanks for your excellent service, and expertly fitted by Claire Curtis joinery.
Fixing the Lights
Our second task was fixing the lights.
Thanks to @willswiringservices who came in to check our lighting situation and also added a couple of extra sockets.
Our third task was furniture and kit. We have been really lucky to benefit from the new-build of Beacon Academy School Cleethorpes, whose art department kindly donated their unwanted tables, seats and storage. A little bit of TLC and it’s ready to deliver workshops and events at our community art space.
They also gave us a nearly new etching press, amazingly generous! and a fantastic addition to our existing kit.
We were able to move the donated furniture, plus our art kit into the space with support from @nelcouncil Acceleration Community Engagement Fund.
Also thanks to the excellent efforts of Roy Laughton Removals (Cleethorpes to Freshney Place) and Lewis Removals (Barton to Freshney Place) thanks guys, especially for your care with Wendy’s vintage haberdashery cabinet and the waaay too heavy Victorian press!
Our Signage
Have you noticed our signage yet?
We love how some internal vinyls and a sign above the door really helps to give our community art space its own identity.
Thank you @mdsignsbarton for your excellent service…and for waiting until the centre closed before completing the job!
IT’S NOT A SHOP…
We’ve developed our front of house area to create a space for PEOPLE who use our unit in Freshney Place, Grimsby, to display and present the items they MAKE.
We feel that this is an important part of what our space should be used for – providing the opportunity for circular and sustainable practices. And giving the opportunity for people to support the makers and us, by purchasing items with a ‘donation’.
There’s plenty of space for all kinds of displays and to give you an idea, we’ve set up some of our Meet Us At Albert‘s project prints, our People Make Grimsby merch and a few of our very own @thehumberprintmaker Lucy’s items.
Where to find us: Baxtergate, Freshney Place
When we’re open: Tuesday and Thursday 10:30am to 3:30pm.