CREATIVITY is blossoming in West Devon, thanks to a brand-new £2-million artists' centre.
The Duchy Square Centre for Creativity in Princetown, which has been built on the former site of Morwenna House, was designed as a landmark facility for Princetown, which will hopefully soon become a focus for artistic talent in the area.
The new centre, opened to the public on March 28, is home to a large group of makers, artists and photographers from the local area.
The two-storey complex houses 17 small work units, a teaching studio and a gallery/exhibition space, for the development of arts and craft enterprises, particularly for new entrants in creative businesses.
Currently there are 12 creative new businesses, including printmaking, dyeing, weaving and jewellery making, using the work units.
But there is a room on the second floor especially reserved for young artists — called the Ignite Studio.
The centre will host two young artists in 2009/2010.
Each resident artist will have a six-month residency in which they will have full access to the studio space to develop their practice. Ignite artists will be practitioners who have returned to Devon to continue their practice and therefore continuing to support the creative industries in the county.
Artists on the ground floor of the centre are Jillian Morris whose business is Handwoven Textile Design; Alison Bickell, Treasured Forever; Jacqueline Welby, Moor Sewing; Jane Deane, a textile designer; Mary Toon, Felt Amazing; and David Lister from Princetown Printmaking Studios.
The second floor features Nicky Viney, who specialises in paintings and sculptures; the Ignite studio; Amanda Pellatt, who deals in oils and mixed media; Anne Middleton, Part of the Country; Caroline Keane, Sara Bradford and Lisa Smith of PLD Designs.
Caroline Keane, who rents a unit and will soon be running colour immersion workshops over a period of eight weeks, said: 'The great thing about this centre is you have access to all these amazing crafts and you can do the art you enjoy in your own space.'
Nick Viney from Walkham Valley, who paints in oils and acrylics, said: 'I feel very excited and privileged to be part of the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity from the outset.'
Jane Deane offers workshops in spinning, dyeing, weaving and textile design.
She said: I am a dyer, spinner and weaver, though I love all forms of textile creativity and knit, sew, embroider, crochet and make lace when the spirit moves me.
'I love to transform things.'
Mary Toon said she makes, sells, exhibits and teaches the feltmaking process.
'I create felted objects as well as 2D and 3D artwork. As well as "wet" felting, I also incorporate "needlepunch" felting and use silk, cotton, fabric and myriad other fibres as well as a variety of raw — some local — fleeces in my work.'
The centre is being operated by Integria Limited on behalf of Devon County Council.
Tracy Hill, South West regional manager for Integria, said that the idea for the centre had been developing for a while.
Tracy said: 'This has been in the pot for the last five to six years, as the local artists wanted somewhere to develop their businesses.
'This was a long time in the thinking but it has all paid off and we now have a vibrant centre which will help rejuvenate Princetown.'
The centre was made possible thanks to funding by Devon County Council, which contributed £500,000, South West Regional Development Agency contributed £350,000, the Government Office for the South West (GOSW) funded £875,000 and the Duchy of Cornwall gave £275,000.
Alan Hoskings, Devon county councillor for Yelverton rural, said: 'Princetown has always been proud of its special history, its strong sense of community, and its role as a base for visitors coming to enjoy the unique beauty of Dartmoor — and now it can look forward to an even more exciting future as a centre for artists and craftspeople.
'Devon County Council can be proud of its contribution to this development.'
l A whole host of activities are being held throughout April and May at Duchy Square, including taster courses in silkscreen with Princetown Printmaking Studios on April 16 and April 18; a two day course in recycling in weaving on May 6 and 7; and a rug making workshop by Julia La Vasseur on May 21 and 22.
Taster sessions introducing people to precious metal clay, and creating an opportunity to design pieces of fine silver jewellery, are being held on April 22 and 30, and May 5 and 12, with half-term holiday sessions for youngsters eleven and over on April 16 and May 28.
For a list of artists' workshops in April with Anne Middleton's Part of the Country email [email protected]">[email protected]