Penny Jones, BV Studios, Bristol

I run BV Studios, newly established in Bristol. Withdrawing Waygood’s funding at the final stage is seriously short-sighted and very difficult to understand…it shows a marked lack of joined-up thinking. BV Studios, thank goodness, exists entirely through the generosity of one business man and his vision to support artists in Bristol - relying on funding in today’s economic climate is a deeply worrying business. I fervently hope that ACE and/or your local council can be persuaded to see that continuing their support for Waygood would be of much greater benefit in the long run and a more intelligent and positive response to the current crisis.

Penny Jones

Posted 3 years ago 2 notes

Notes:

helaina-walker reblogged this from wishesforwaygood
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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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