There’s still no news on the future of the Rye Creative Centre – it is due to be demolished as part of the housing development planned for the Freda Gardham old school site. This week, as part of our series on the artists who work at the centre, David Eckold makes a passionate case for keeping the building as a creative space – for future artists and for Rye.
I’ve talked to people who were here before me. They come to our open studios and remember the swimming pool, theatre and their primary school years here. As we talk we’re standing in what were the changing rooms – now my studio space. I had to remove the iron brackets around the walls that supported the slatted benches. No easy task – this place was build to last. I’ve given up trying to drill into the bricks as they’re too hard – I have to drill into the mortar lines. Originally the changing rooms, my studio space only has small windows, but this is fine for me as some of the things I make light up!
Visitors are curious and positive about my work and ask lots of questions which I enjoy. I can see, stirring in some of them, the desire to start creating themselves and we talk about this too. The urge to create is in most of us in some form or another. And they are so pleased to find that their school building, which holds so many memories from their childhood, has found this new purpose.
For fifteen years now, a collective of thirty artist and makers known as ‘New Road Artists’ has rented the building giving it a new lease of life with an exciting future. Over the years it has evolved into a local hub for creative activity with the work of many artists regularly found in the galleries of Rye supplying them with a flow of locally created work.
Classes and workshops in printing, life drawing, bookmaking and sculpture offer people the chance to try creative activities and develop their skills tutored by practicing artists. While most of us are busy with our own work, I must say something about those here whose creative activity is focused on others. The remarkable work of ‘The Studio’ and ‘Heart Smart Arts’ support people with disabilities through creative activities and vulnerable young people through art therapy.
I’ve been part of the growing community of artists for over six years and benefit greatly from having access to studio space in a place where others are engaged in creative activity. It’s a common notion that artists and makers like to work on their own but there’s a difference between working on your own and working in isolation. Perhaps it’s like swimmers who need a community pool to encourage their interest in swimming, or people who need a gym to satisfy their interest in exercise rather than doing work-outs at home. I don’t know if this is a meaningful comparison but I know I benefit from the energy of others around me.
Now, what is known as Rye Creative Centre, is threatened with demolition. The site is earmarked for much-needed housing but there seems to have been little real consideration of how the existing school building, with its excellent theatre space, could coexist with a development of housing. Like many schools of its era there is asbestos present – some of which has already been removed. But this is not an uncommon issue in older buildings and the solution is usually to remove the problem not to demolish the building.
If the school is demolished and no alternative is found, the ever evolving community of artists will disband. Creative classes will cease and the wonderful theatre space will no longer host plays and musicals or be a practice space for theatre groups and choirs.
We are very aware of how important the creative centre is to us, but our focus is also on those who could come after us. All the local people who could continue to fill these spaces with their creativity and energy. So often small creative and craft based businesses begin in places just like this. Painters and sculptors, theatre groups, photographers, jewellers, leather workers and book binders to name a few, all need a place to start, to experiment, to learn.
The creative centre is a unique and valuable place that contributes to Ryes reputation as a vibrant and creative town. Once a resource like the centre closes it is unlikely to reappear and all that it could continue to bring to local people and the town will disappear.
In recent years those responsible for the building have put a huge amount of time and effort and money into upgrading and developing the school into the Rye Creative Centre. It would be such a shame to see all this wasted with its demolition.
Image Credits: David Eckold .
Even if demolished for housing, would it not be possible to include a dedicated building on the site to house RCC? It’s not just the artists who rent the current space who would benefit, but also residents and visitors from further afield who love the events that are mounted at RCC. Just a thought.
David a brilliant article to let all of the local artists stay near to Rye. It is excellent to encourage people in Rye and the whole country to come to this place, see items themselves and experiment with their own styles. I think the building should not be knocked down and the alternative option to build a small number of houses past it. That is the benefit of continuing artwork close by in Rye. I love working there.
Art or houses that is the question.
There will those who think Rye puts more effort into art than in it does in housing etc, I personally won’t loose any sleep if the building is knocked down but I’ll be disappointed if the houses end up as second homes, Airbnb’s or yet more overflow housing for those well off enough to escape city life leaving locals and those in need of housing left out yet again.
Tony, I wonder whether we would actually need any more new houses if all the properties being used as holiday lets / second homes were made available to our local families? If Council Tax on such properties was say, quadrupled, the money raised could not only fill a few potholes and ensure our public conveniences remain open, or better still, the greedy owners might be pursuaded to offload them to the benefit of those far more deserving.
Air B&B should be banned. It changes the culture of beautiful places with absent residents and all the services etc a town needs.
Young people cannot be housed in Rye.
A large multiple occupancy in Winchelsea Road recently restored is now destined for AirB&B. Is this he future for Rye?
Martello developments have set their stall and are willing to build new units for those using the school site,which must cost a fortune in rates and maintenance to run, the building was deemed to be demolished as soon as the Eastern wall of the river Rother was finished, whether they get planning permission to build new creative units on harbour road is up to the planning authorities, and it doesn’t matter how much people scream from the church tower,what will be, will be.
Rye has a significant Arts Aura.
I do so heartily endorse all that David Eckold has said in his article about the possible demolition of The Rye creative Centre.
The Centre is a highly proficient collection of all the arts and enhances the Aura of creativity that hangs over the entire of our fabulous town. With excellent facilities for all the variety of arts that includes theatre, song and dance. The Centre with its plentiful parking is a magnet for those that wish to appreciate those artistic endeavours. Rye attracts many tourists who cannot fail to be aware of this Aura. Artworks are intrinsically a part of Rye, in shops, in galleries, cafes, restaurants and hotels.
If It is demolished for housing I hope that Martello or others would be able to provide a suitable replacement. Not being involved in commercial ventures, I can only think of such spaces as the Martello building in Rock channel, The old Channons store in the Station Carpark and even as yet undeveloped places such as the site off Tower street.
I would like the creative centre to be left where it is but if not can any one think of another site? I would be the first to thank them.