Bethan Maddocks, Artist

I first encountered Waygood in 2005 in my second year of University when Helen came to talk to my fine art course about the redevelopment in High Bridge. It was great to hear that opening soon after my graduation would be a contemporary artist run space in the centre of town. After graduating I got in contact with Waygood who gave me paid employment at events. When I got offered my first exhibition after graduating it was again Waygood who I went to to enquire about a space to create work. They offered me their hanging space where I developed ideas, rent free for a month, ultimately leading to me creating work that I would have been unable to make without this space. A few months later I got offered a studio space at Waygood in Harkers, where I have now been for 2 and a half years. It may be a cold, dusty old warehouse but I relish the chance I get to spend in my studio and the conversations I have there with fellow Waygood studio holders and staff.

I am now a fairly successful artist in the region and have no doubt that this is down in part to Waygoods support. It will be a great shame if this same sense of support is withdrawn by the Arts Council, as I really believe Waygood is one of a kind.

Posted 3 years ago

About:

We as Waygood Studio Artists, volunteers, Associates, partners and supporters want to show our support for Waygood and ask you to do the same.

In February 2010 Waygood learnt that Arts Council England, North East are considering withdrawing their revenue support. Subsequently Newcastle City Council informed Waygood they no longer wish to move forward with Waygood as the operator of the newly refurbished Gallery and Studios at Wards Building on High Bridge.

We as Waygood Studio Artists and supporters believe that this decision from the funding partners is short sighted and isn't in the best interests of the artists, students, recent graduates volunteers and visitors who have been involved in Waygood since its beginnings 15 years ago through to the present and into future.

It is also just 9 weeks before the building is complete and 13 weeks before we are due to move in. We believe that we haven’t been consulted and wanted to voice our support for Waygood, the organisation we have invested our time and money in. We want to maintain Waygood's ethos and building which we hope will become a fantastic resource for art, artists and visitors from Newcastle, Gateshead and beyond.

We have already received many letters of support, and have started this website, where we hope that you will add your support online. We have until 18 March 2010 to collect the first round of positive messages from all who have benefited from Waygood's activities over the past 15 years and will then present them to the funders, so please find time to add a message of support.

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