Redevelopment of the Old Courthouse
has begun
Rural Arts is making big structural improvements to the Courthouse, including installation of a lift and extension of the first floor area to bring the building up to a good standard. This will enable us to hold more activities concurrently and ensure that activities in the Clerk’s House are open to all. A new reception area will mean that visitors can drop in at any time during opening hours.
The site will have three main roles: storage and facilities for outreach workshops, administrative offices, and training facilities. Two new studios will enable us to offer training in new digital media as well as more traditional artistic fields.
The redevelopment includes:
Reception
Linking the restored Courtroom and the adjoining Clerks House and providing a box office facility, open exhibition space and refreshment / bar area.
Lift
Improving accessibility by linking the reception area to the new first floor facilities.
Offices
The existing rooms on the first floor will be restored and improved.
Media studio
A
new dedicated ICT training room on the first floor with capacity for 12 students. Rural Arts has received a grant of £20,000 from the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) to equip the new studio. The fund will pay for 12 iMac computers with server and creative software, Sennheiser DJ headphones and an Epson Aculaser printer. The studio will be used for classes in new film, audio and photographic technologies.
Studio
A new first floor studio suitable for creative master classes, seminars, music rehearsals, with capacity for 24 students.
Craft workshop
Refurbishment of the existing ground floor studio for glass and clay work with capacity for 12 students.
Storage room and loading bay
Refurbishment of the existing ground floor craft storage space with kiln facilities and a preparation area, and incorporating a loading bay to the car park.
Kitchen
A
new facility on the ground floor, for refreshments and food preparation.
Disabled toilets
Two new facilities on the ground and first floors.
If you would like to hire any of the newly refurbished rooms in the future, or the Old Courthouse venue please contact: janice@ruralarts.org
