AN artist-led project which aimed to obtain a permanent home for the creative and performing arts in Okehampton is at risk of folding if new committee members can’t be found to take the project forward.

Ocmundtune Creative Arts (OCA) was set up several years ago by a small group of people to celebrate the arts in all forms in Okehampton and Okehampton Hamlets with a view to campaign for an arts centre in the town.

Originally the group had a plan to see if it could use the Plume of Feathers, which has been closed for several years, as a possible venue but an application to the Princes Trust for financial support for the project failed, because the Trust only deals with listed buildings.

The group then held a celebration of the arts at the Ockment Centre one weekend in 2014, which saw many artists and musicians coming together to make a significant contribution towards the success of the venture.

Sine then, no further progress has been made, mainly due to the lack of commitment from anyone willing to take on responsibility to move plans forward.

The current chair, treasurer and secretary have put an enormous amount of effort into the project but other commitments mean that they are no longer able to give the project the time it needs.

The group has just over £1,000 in the bank, which will either be distributed to groups who share the aims of OCA if it folds or could be used to bring about change as a new committee is formed. Several of the founder members would like to encourage others to get involved so that OCA can gain a new lease of life for the coming year.

Valerie Cushing, member of OCA, said: ‘We applied for funding from various bodies for the weekend event in 2014 — it rained the whole time but the people who came all thoroughly enjoyed it and the artists and musicians appreciated being able to be together in one spot.

‘We’ve been thinking about what to do next. It would be wrong to just leave the money in the bank doing nothing, so if no-one comes forward to form a new committee we will have to fold and give the money away to similar groups and projects in the area. There are a lot of musicians and artists keen to be involved but they don’t want to be involved in the admin side of things or be organisers. We need to have a chair, secretary and treasurer so we can have a proper AGM and elect a new committee.’

Valerie said it would be a great shame if the group was to fold and all that was needed was a few enthusiastic people to join the committee.

‘It would be such a shame if it folded. To me art, gifts and music gives a lift to the town because it’s creative and enjoyable.’

Interested people need to get in touch by Monday, February 29, as the website is up for renewal at the beginning of March but the group is reluctant to renew the website if it has to close.

Visit the website www.ocmundtunearts.com for more information about the group, or to register your interest contact 01837 53504 or send an email to [email protected]