We have an opportunity to transform the old Infants School in Harrington into an Arts/Heritage Centre and are urgently seeking people to help move this project forward quickly! The building has been empty for 5 years and is due to go up for auction in June 2010.

Our proposal is to build a centre which would provide a base with studio space for artists and crafts people, where they could be seen at work and interact with visitors and the community through links with schools and other venues through an outreach programme. The units would be rented to users and the centre would also provide a gallery space to exhibit and sell work, not only from artists based at the centre but also from visiting exhibitions. The studio space and gallery would operate alongside a small museum and heritage area. We have been in contact with a couple of funders who are interested in helping us. It is expected that after initial set up the project would be self sustaining in three to five years.

Cumbria County Council will consider withdrawing the school from auction if we can have a fully worked up business plan by 12th May!

We are therefore urgently wanting to hear from anyone who would use or support the building through rental of studio space, exhibiting etc. Also we need people for an intial working group who will work with us now and who have experience of moving such a project forward. Business-minded, experienced or willing to learn quickly, but most of all committed.

This is too good an opportunity to miss so hopefully, if we can gather enough like-minded people to work together, we can make this a success!

If you feel you can help or know someone who can, please contact Sheila in the first instance - 01946 831152 sa.fielder@tiscali.co.uk