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By Katy Duke
We want to convert the old blue toilet block in central Frome into four micro-galleries and a local food kiosk PLUS repair a unique heritage glass block artwork containing industrial artifacts.
Aims - to restore & promote the publicly funded ‘Singers Links’ project, made with local children, improve the appearance of the redundant building, promote the town's artistic community and provide local (fast) food. The existing disabled loo will be converted to a food kiosk & the four other loos/urinal into four mini-galleries. Loop de Loop Gallery will be promoted via a website & artists are encouraged to use QR codes in the exhibition.
The glass blocks in the curved back wall of the toilet block hold hidden treasures! They record some of the key town businesses of yesteryear, including Singers, Butler & Tanner, Cooper Bussman & Notts Industries, with embedded artifacts from the old factories, prior to closure or moving out of town.
The glass block lighting is powered by a projector with side-emitting LED's. It is proposed that the wall is repaired and the glass blocks are restored by the original artist, Helga Watkins-Baker & that the projector is maintained by the project.
What we'll deliver:
Why it's a great idea:
The toilet block was abandoned by the District Council in 2007 and has been a boarded-up eyesore in the centre of town ever since. We want to turn it into a showcase for our wide range of local artists who are often hidden away in their homes and studios. We want to give low cost space for existing food providers to show off their wares and we want to give opportunities to young people with new business ideas.
All these things come together in this tiny building right in the centre of the town.
Steps to get it done:
We have had wonderful support from the artistic community via Creative Frome. The first public fundraising event (at the Frome Super Market) raised £500 & allowed for repairs to the projector and the Environmental Health tests to be completed.
Gallery
Journey
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Brilliant news, thanks everyone!
How will the money be spent?Total £10,558
Costs Breakdown
This shows how money raised for the project will be spent. These costs have been confirmed by the project's Delivery Manager and verified.
Total £10,558
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VolunteerI love Frome and want to see it continue to thrive and become a vibrant sustainable town & key to this is lively engaging public spaces where people can socialise as well as use the town centre shops and services.
Loop de Loop Square is right in the centre of Frome. Please see our new video for inspiration HERE.
I will be running the project with Helga Watkins-Baker, the artist who created the Singers Links glass blocks. I will deal with the planning application, building work and food kiosk & she will deal with the wall & glass blocks repair and the four gallery spaces. Helga is Director of Creative Frome who are also project champions.
For eleven years I was Regeneration Officer for Frome and created an Urban Design Framework for the town centre, undertaking many public space improvement projects. I was involved in the the original project to create the Singers Links glass blocks and hope to renovate the stone wall & find a new use for the building now that the owner has abandoned the building. I run a voluntary Shop Local in Frome project with a free town centre shopping guide and promotion via Facebook & Twitter. I now run a small business making thermal roman blinds.
Project Owner: Katy Duke The Project Owner takes legal responsibility for receiving and spending the funds raised and ensuring the project is delivered.
Contractor: Dave Clark Plumbing & Heating The team responsible for building or installing the project.
