The Big Weekend, held a few weeks ago at The Saltburn School, attracted media attention from local newspapers The Northern Echo and The Evening Gazette. For anyone who missed it here are the clippings:
Northern Echo
Article in The Northern Echo
A NEW community arts centre has been officially opened.
Tom Blenkinsop, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, cut the ribbon at The Saltburn School at the weekend.
The building is the site of the former Saltburn junior school, which was abandoned by the local authority in 2009 when Huntcliffe Campus was built across the road.
Arts charity Saltburn Arts made a bid for the school last year and signed a two year lease with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council in May to turn the building into a community asset for the town.
The official opening on Friday evening, which was attended by residents of the town, began a full weekend of activities at the centre.
Art exhibitions, drama performances, a pop-up skate park and children’s activities were a few of things on offer for free to Saltburn residents.
For the past few months, volunteers from the area gave thousands of hours of their time to restore the building to a basic standard.
More skilled restoration work was paid for by Government grants, but much of the work was carried out for free by skilled tradesmen.
The building is currently used an event venue and is home to resident artist Emily Hesse and furniture restoration business Peeling Paint.
Peter Neal of Saltburn Arts, said “So many people have given their time and energy to get the project off the ground and all of us are really happy to have got this far.”
Evening Gazette
Article in the Evening Gazette
FIRST CLASS!
Ambitious new community venture launched in fine style
AN ambitious new community project – based in a former school building – is providing new facilities for families.
Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Tom Blenkinsop cut the ceremonial ribbon at The Saltburn School – a new community and arts centre on Marske Mill Lane.
The building is at the site of the former Saltburn Junior School, which was abandoned by the local authority in 2009 when Hutcliff Campus was built across the road.
Art exhibitions, drama performances, a pop-up skate park and children’s activities are just a few of the facilities on offer free to Saltburn residents.
Mr Blenkinsop said: “It’s a real honour to support and open The Saltburn School project”
“It has involved the whole community in bringing a local community asset to life once again.”
Arts charity Saltburn Arts made a bid for the school last year.
In May, it signed a two-year lease with Redcar and Cleveland Council to turn the building into an exciting community asset for the town.
The official opening, which was attended by residents of the town, kicked off a weekend of activity at the centre.
Peter Neal, of Saltburn Arts, said: “We’re excited to officially open The Saltburn School.
“Last weekend was a celebration of what has been achieved at the school to date – as well as a taster of what’s to come!”
“So many people have given their time and energy to get this project off the ground.”
The organisers report that the scheme has attracted solid support and interest from the community as a whole.
For the past few months, volunteers from the local area have given thousands of hours of their time to restore the building to a basic standard again.
In addition, skilled restoration work has been paid for by Government grants to add to that carried out for free by tradesmen.
The building is currently being used as an event venue, room hiring space and home to resident artist Emily Hesse and furniture restoration business Peeling Paint.
