By Harry Mottram: Axbridge residents Paul Hughes and Peter Harding have been in negotiations with the Methodist Church Authorities and have managed to agree a 12 month license on the redundant church as an arts centre. They announced that from 1st July, 2025, the West Street building built in 1850 has enough funding to cover the cost of running the building for approximately ten weeks.
In a statement they said: “An Axe Vale Arts launch day is proposed for Sunday 6th July. Our thoughts are to plan a programme of performances, activities and an exhibition, throughout the afternoon and evening to promote our vision of a local arts centre.
“We aim to show the versatile range of possibilities throughout the building and offer an opportunity to showcase local talent. We would like to showcase music, drama, comedy, spoken word performances along with exhibitions of local artwork and possibly creative art workshops/demonstrations.”
The plan is now to create a programme of events, performances, concerts and art exhibitions with ideally weekly events which will help to fun activity in the future. In November last year there was an open day for interested parties to view the church which is now empty and features a gallery, pews and a school room, kitchen and stores rooms downstairs. A public meeting in the town hall a few days later heard from the Reverend Andrew Bell of the church authorities who said there would likely be an alcohol ban if it was an arts centre in line with the ethos of the church, while Methodist circuit property steward Malcolm Gale said there were occasional running repairs but there was ‘nothing inherently wrong with in.’
More details of the launch event will be released soon. There is a Facebook page for more information at https://www.facebook.com/groups/583188354145782/ where you can contact the duo.
Axbridge Review is edited by Harry Mottram and is published for the interest of himself and fellow residents.
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