Fran's vision for creative centre in Leamington's old library
Leamington's old library and art gallery could become a creative community enterprise.
The Avenue Road library is owned by Warwickshire College and stands boarded up and empty after a proposed sale collapsed.
But Fran Godwin, who runs the Community Arts Workshop in the gallery next door, has a plan to give both buildings a new lease of life.
Mr Godwin has a 'vision' to turn them into a centre of creativity, with mental health and other vulnerable groups at its heart.
The buildings would contain a range of facilities including creative businesses, artists' studios, digital media and music workshops and cafe.
But while Mr Godwin says he can provide the ideas, the project would need support from the college, Warwick District Council - which owns the gallery - and the NHS to make it a reality.
He said: "A project like this could really change a lot of people's lives and be sustainable.
"One of the greatest issues facing socially excluded and disadvantaged people is isolation. But creative social groups help overcome this problem.
"Vulnerable people would need to be at the centre of the enterprise as otherwise they will be pushed out."
Mr Godwin, who has been running community projects for ten years, has produced an outline for how the 'not for profit' scheme would work and believes now is the right time to make it happen.
He said: "The problem of revenue is a really big one, but low property prices mean it is a good opportunity as far as buying the buildings is concerned.
"The NHS is moving towards giving patients individual budgets to choose what they spend their money on and creative classes are really popular as a form of therapy and recovery.
"It's about giving people dignity and self-expression and a chance to unwind."
The workshop runs an Art Venture Group every Wednesday for people with severe and enduring mental health problems and learning disabilities.
It also received funding from the Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust, which provides mental health services, to run an exhibition called Open Minds last year.
Mr Godwin said the enterprise would be a partnership between disadvantaged and disabled individuals and groups, health services and art organisations.
A college spokeswoman said: "It sounds like a great use of the building, but we would need to see detailed financial plans.
"We still aim to sell the building when the property market improves."
A Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust spokesman said: "Open Up was a very successful event and we were delighted with the work produced as a result of that exhibition.
"We know that creating artwork gives people experiencing mental distress an excellent way of expressing what they are going through, and that can be very helpful to them in achieving recovery.
"We will certainly be interested to find out more about the Community Arts Workshop's plans."
Head of economic development and regeneration at the district council Paul Pinkney said: "We would be very interested to discuss these proposals with CAW. "
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Weather for Leamington
Tuesday 22 May 2012
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Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
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