Blackburn Town Centre’s oldest building is the Grade 2 listed church of St John the Evangelist. Built in 1788, you can see a potted history of Blackburn’s 19th century movers and shakers by looking around its graveyard. But those people who welded Blackburn’s culture from the past are about to be wedded to our culture of the present and future.
A new arts centre is gradually taking shape in the old church. To be known as ‘The Bureau, Centre For The Arts’. It was the brainchild of Claire Tymon from ‘Blackburn Is Open’, the town’s regenerative agency, set up to put unused space in the town centre back into use. This followed the Citizen’s Advice Bureau moving from St John’s across to the library. It was CAB’s connection with St John’s church which brought about this idea for the arts centre’s new name. St John’s itself is a fascinating concept of Blackburn’s past and present. You are immediately reminded this was a church when your attention is captured by sun shining through its beautiful stained glass windows. Another legacy of former ecclesiastical days is its excellent acoustic quality.
The Bureau is setting up as a Community Interest Company, and Alex Martindale is one of the directors. He said the Bureau will be split up into rooms. These will be hired out to artists, exhibitions will be held and a corridor gallery will be created. The centre is allowed to hold twelve events a year where alcohol can be consumed on the premises. This will mean one-off monthly events will be organised. Plans are also afoot to host a beer festival in the building. This will showcase local brewers, including Three B’s and Hopstar.
Alex expects funding for the arts centre to come from the Arts Council of England, Council and Lottery grants. There has also been interest from commercial organisations to pay to use space and equipment. The building is also available for hire. Work on the centre is progressing slowly, due to it being a new venture. But Alex says its board of directors want everything planned properly and carried out correctly.
Activities are already taking place on a regular basis. Blackburn Printfest will be holding a two day celebration of exhibitions, workshops, performances and print fairs. This takes place on 15th & 16th May. Art Space is a monthly meet up for creatives, held every third Thursday. Drink & Draw hold classes every second Thursday. They have a full screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, with live models in costume, to sketch alongside. There is a dress code for this event – Drag! This takes place on Thursday 9th April between 6:30-9:30pm and costs £5.
Alex says he wants the Bureau to become a fully-fledged arts centre, with studios and regular events taking place. Information can be found by emailing them: info@bureaublackburn.co.uk or by visiting their website: http://bureaublackburn.co.uk
