I wish Edinburgh had a Waygood!

When visiting Newcastle from both Edinburgh and Norway where I am originally from, I always made a point of visiting Waygood. I always thought Newcastle was lucky to have such a place, and wish that Edinburgh had such an artist led gallery/studio complex. This is why I could not believe the news when I heard that funding was being withdrawn by the Arts Council and Newcastle Council. A gallery is more than it’s buildings, it’s about the people that run it and their vision. With it’s varied and interesting exhibition programme, the team at Waygood have created something special that should be cherished and valued, not thrown away.

The possibility of one day joining the Waygood community in Newcastle would make me consider relocating from Edinburgh. However, without Waygood, my visits to Newcastle will be all the more rare!

Kjersti Sletteland

Artist

Edinburgh and Norway

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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