I AM writing in strong support of Cinderford Artspace. As a tutor for the Royal Forest of Dean College, I have taught an art class at Artspace for the past 11 years and have seen the work it does grow from strength to strength.
When teaching my class there this week I was amazed to discover that none of the students realised that Artspace is a Community Arts Resource Centre run independently of the Royal Forest of Dean College and largely staffed by volunteers with only a handful of paid workers.
The work it does with the visually impaired, with young people, with people with learning difficulties, with those recovering from mental illness, and with children excluded from school is of great benefit to the individuals concerned and to the wider community. It also offers training opportunities for volunteers and a wonderful chance for local artists and craftspeople to use its pottery, printmaking, photographic and studio facilities at a very small cost. This wide range of activities is not well enough known by the people of the Forest.
This year things have really taken off with the addition of a new photographic darkroom built by volunteers and using donated equipment. The circus skills and trapeze workshops which its runs at The Enterprise Centre are proving exceedingly popular with young people. The creative energy generated by Artspace is desperately needed in Cinderford and makes Artspace one of the area's greatest assets.
It should be supported up to the hilt in its endeavours to gain new premises and expand its current programme. – Angela Palmer, Brockweir.