After a long collaboration with Greenfield Community College, Greenfield Arts has announced it will be leaving its current site at the end of August.
Greenfield Arts was opened in 2000 with the support of the Arts Council and Great Aycliffe Town Council, realising the determination and vision of former head master Mike Thornton.
The centre has served both the school and the community throughout the last 23 years, attracting over 600,000 users of all generations and reaching international audiences.
The Greenfield Gallery has welcomed and supported artists throughout this time, with over 200 exhibitions including Turner prize winner Lubain Himid and three successful Norman Cornish exhibitions that have inspired community programmes and school projects.
The gallery has supported artists and emerging creatives with a regular Open Art exhibition which this year attracted over thirty submissions of outstanding accomplishment.
“We have seen artists develop over the years and gain confidence in exhibiting and progressing their craft and technique,” said arts and communication co-ordinator Laura Towns.
“We are very sad to be losing this facility which has brought such joy to so many people and supported the arts and students in every way.”
Greenfield Arts says it owes an enormous debt to former director Katy Milne, who worked alongside the school and the wider arts community to ‘make things happen’ for 17 years.
The Greenfield Arts programme has been vibrant up until the end with a continuous programme of events and activities in Newton Aycliffe and Shildon, including 60 live performances working alongside theatre groups such as Unfolding Theatre, Theatre Hullaballoo, Take Off Festival, Mad Alice Theatre and individual artists.
The Arts centre is home to Cree groups who have worked on projects such as the Little Library Project, the SEN room project, the Supershed for the PCP, the Bamboo sculpture project and so many more.
The centre loses a number of groups who have made the space their home, including Creative Forum, Creative Wellbeing, Community Pottery, South Durham Dance, ManHealth, Darlington Association of Photographers, Synergy, Everygreen, John Melvin Guitar and singing, Floral Art and our Yoga and Spanish groups.
“A big thank you to all the artists and participants over the years who have supported us and the funders and stakeholders who have made the projects and activities possible,” said a statement.
“This has enabled us to inspire creative opportunities and produce high quality, dynamic and stimulating arts and activity.”