The Old Brick Workshop in Poole is being transformed into a new creative artists’ space for Wellington.
Once part of the historic Poole Brickworks, it will soon be a versatile venue for artists and makers when it opens officially on 3rd October.
The workshop is a spacious two story building – made appropriately from the local red brick – on a busy rural industrial estate next to Viridor, near Poole Recycling Centre. It will accommodate 9 self-contained artists’ studios, a large open-plan shared space and gallery. As a brown-field development next to industrial units it is an imaginative conversion.
Local businesswoman, Alison Cosserat, came up with the idea while relocating from her previous business premises. She said, “I found the Old Brick Workshop site, established my own studio and then began offering affordable spaces to others. My vision is to create a harmonious community of co-working artists, running workshops and creative courses alongside a dedicated gallery.”
Converting the building has involved a challenging amount of work. Alison paid tribute to “the determination and generosity of people who believe in the project.” She added, “Walls have been pulled down, others have gone up and, with the collaboration of the Old Brick Workshop’s artists’ community, the Gallery – latest part of the project – has been completed and prepared for its first exhibition”.
The Old Brick Workshop opens on 3rd October for the start of Somerset Arts Week Festival 2015 and is the only local venue to be involved in the event. Artists James Marsden, Anna Newland Hooper, Diana Pilcher, Debbi Sutton, Alex Conetta, Nicky Withers, Jane Mowat, Teresa Wilson, Ashley Thomas, Jane Kelly, Natalie Parsley and Judith Crosher will be displaying their work in the new gallery and throughout the building. Alison said, “The exhibition promises to show a fantastic variety of paintings, prints, drawings, photography and mixed media.” It opens daily from 11am and 6pm from 3rd to 18th October.