This month BBC News reported that New Brewery Arts here in the heart of Cirencester may be forced to close its doors within the next six months due to ongoing cost-of-living pressures and long-term decline in arts funding.
This may surprise many of you as New Brewery Arts has been a long-standing institution in the town, welcoming over 100,000 visitors each year to the building. In fact, we were incredibly proud to recently be voted one of the top five cultural organisations in the country. Yet despite a profitable shop, café, thriving artist studios, and a hugely popular programme of craft workshops and courses, the charity is now running at a stubborn deficit.
We can so nearly make it work, with the charity able to cover 95% of overheads. Yet, we have seen some radical changes to our financial model over the last three years, with the cost of running a large historic building going through the roof and arts funding going through the floor across the sector.
Be assured that we are working hard behind the scenes to ensure our sustainability, but we can’t do it alone and we need your help.
If thirty people or more book a workshop each month (that’s one person a day), we would move into the black. It is time for everyone who always wanted to learn a new craft or skill to just book! We are asking our community to stand with us so we can continue to be the place where creativity happens in Cirencester. This really is a case of use us or lose us!
We’d also like to invite you to our festive pop-up craft exhibition Joy! (25th Oct – 3rd Jan). All items on display will be for sale. We will have pieces made by established and emerging makers based in the UK across all craft disciplines and price points – from textiles, ceramics, paper, metal, jewellery, cards, decorations and more.
We are gearing up our plans to celebrate our 50th birthday in 2028 and it should be a time to celebrate the joy we know we bring to our town and community, but the sad truth is, we might not make it.
It’s time to support what you love and help us shape the next 50 years of creativity. The tools are in your hands — let’s craft our way out of this crisis, together.
We are asking you to get involved and support in practical ways, including:
𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 a workshop – bring a friend and get creative – gift vouchers are available. We are also available for private Christmas group bookings.
𝗕𝗨𝗬 the very best handmade pieces, made by UK craftspeople at our festive pop-up Joy! (25th Oct – 3rd Jan) and in our gallery shop.
𝗝𝗢𝗜𝗡 as a Supporter or Patron or give a one-off donation
The tools are in our hands — let’s craft our way out of this crisis, together.
BOOK Beth Alden, CEO, New Brewery Arts
www.newbreweryarts.org.uk
To keep up to date with what´s going on in town, feel free to join our Facebook group by clicking here. To advertise with the magazine check out the Rates & Media Pack – Ciren Scene!
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