Partner Article

Former shop offers creative opening for artists

A group of artists and creative businesses has helped Gateshead Council to transform an empty furniture store in the centre of Gateshead into a new “artists’ colony”.

Eleven creative businesses have been given rent-free workspace by Gateshead Council as part of a new project to help small businesses to get off the ground.

The ‘Starter for Ten’ scheme, developed by Gateshead Council and design guru Wayne Hemingway, has seen The Bed Shed, a redundant furniture store on Gateshead’s High Street, turned into a creative cluster for small businesses called ‘The Shed’.

On Monday 23 November Councillor Mick Henry, Leader of Gateshead Council, joined Wayne Hemingway to officially welcome the first eleven businesses to their new premises.

Initially a pilot scheme, The Shed offers basic business premises at little or no cost. Starter for Ten’s first tenants include visual artists, fashion designers, an architect, a fashion photographer, a graphic designer and an award-winning filmmaker.

Cllr Mick Henry, Leader of Gateshead Council, said: “When we announced our plans to make Gateshead a centre for creativity by turning this huge empty building into temporary creative workspace, we were inundated with requests for space.

“We are confident that the enthusiasm brought by the eleven creative businesses will generate a vibrant and creative atmosphere in Gateshead that will invigorate our own plans for the town centre’s redevelopment.”

Wayne Hemingway said: “This is about giving the creative community a helping hand and putting empty units to good use. It has the potential to attract leaders and entrepreneurs to Gateshead and give the local economy a boost.

“The creative sector is now one of the biggest drivers of the UK economy and yet there are very few facilities to promote entrepreneurship in this area. “At a time when overseas competition is addressing this issue Britain should start to also address it to retain its creative edge.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .