Totally Local, The Sail Loft and The Right Side Room

It is 5 months since the new arts venue opened its doors in Commercial Road, Swanage.

The premises previously occuppied by beauty treatment practictioners "The Lavender Rooms", have successfully been converted for community use and practicing artists and craftspeople.

The retail area downstairs, "Totally Local", offers local artists and craftspeople the opportunity to sell their work. Items on sale include original paintings, scuplture/carvings, jewellery, textiles,  prints, photographs, cards, books and pamphlets.

Totally Local celebrates and promotes the artistic and cultural heritage of Purbeck and recognises the role the area has played in inspiring artists. It is clear from those involved, that Purbecks landscape, geology and wildlife are major reasons for their work and living in the area..

Karen Delahay who runs the venue is always keen to see new artists and craftspeople work.

Adjacent to the shop is the small exhibitions gallery "The Right Side Room". Although small, it is ideal for individual exhibitions and specific subjects. Although the shop area "Totally Local" concentrates on local skills, "The Right Side Room" is available for hire by artists from outside the area and Karen is keen to see work not usually included in local galleries. Whether it be the nature or style of the work or the materials used, she is keen to hear from any artists who think the space might suit their needs.

Exhibitions will not be restricted to visual arts or crafts and planned exhibitions include those related to industrial archaeology, illustration, literature and geology.  Exhibitions are also planned in conjunction to events held by other organisations in Swanage.

Above "Totally Local", there is an attractive  room (The Sail Loft) where classes are held.

Childrens classes started in the Autumn and have proved so popular  that further weekday classes are started in January. Toddler classes are also due to start.

Adult classes have started and others planned. The Clay Club held on Tuesday evenings is particularly popular and enjoyable.

Thursday evenings (7-9pm) are open house, where materials and refreshments are provided for use for a fee of £3. The last Thursday of the month will be a talk, demonstration or workshop given by visiting guest speakers.

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It is hoped the space will be used by individual artists and craftspeople to develop their own skills or run there own classes. Anybody wishing to do so should contact Karen for further details.

The site is becoming a regular meeting place for those interested in seeing community arts develop and other arts based organisations such as Purbeck Arts week and Strata.

The next major hurdle is funding for certain elements of the centre and Karen and her colleagues feel that both the site and its aims are worthy of consideration by external funders.

Karen is currently putting together a major bid to the Arts Council for a 3 year funding programme.

Due to The Arts Council closing applications for a couple of months, an application cannot be submitted until mid March. We will not know the outcome for a further 3 months.

Partnership funders will be required for certain elements and income from other areas within the venue will fulfil some of that need.

A meeting with MP Jim Knight confirmed his support for the plans and his suggestion that all those using or involved in the centre should make their feelings, regarding its future, perfectly clear to the local authorities.

Letters of support and opinions concerning local community arts provision should be sent c/o Karen Delahay, Totally Local, 15c Commercial Road, Swanage, Dorset BH19 1DF.

emails can be sent via Karen - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it