Otley based artist and craft nut, Helen Page, has wanted to open a shop to help support local arts and crafts makers for a number of years. Helen suffers from a number of health problems which have made working difficult for her and appreciates first hand just how difficult it is for people with disabilities to find work which fits around their often complex needs.
"Working when you are fit and being able to take time off when you're not is something many people with disabilities would love to do but they simply can't. The idea of the shop is that you can make stuff when you are well enough, hire a cabinet and we will sell the items for you so that you don't have to worry about sitting at a craft fair or trying to promote your work when you are struggling health wise".
Helen also feels that arts and crafts are vital in to the Otley economy. "In recent years the town has suffered from decline but new art galleries, the flourishing Otley Courthouse and the Woolpack arts centres really have created a buzz around the town. I'm hoping to take this buzz and use it to help people work who would otherwise find it a real struggle".
The plan is to open a shop which will have cabinets which can be hired by local artisans to display their work. As well as this the shop will have space for people wanting to run craft demonstrations. " Their are so many vulnerable groups of people in Otley who have nowhere to go. Teenagers, people with disabilities, the elderly and young parents all need somewhere to go but it's challenging for those who want to run things because by the time you factor in wages and room hire, it works out too expensive for people to access.
Initially the project will run for a 2 month period over the summer to test out the idea and find out what works. If it works then we will look to secure funding for a longer term project which will provide work placements for people who have disabilities and education services to replace those lost when Otley lost it's further education college last year. We have the opportunity to rent an empty shop on a short term basis which is right in the town centre, close to the market.
