Community arts group taken over disused building in Shoreham
Over the Moon has taken over the keys of a former toilet block on Ham Road and plans to transform the space into a hub for sustainable arts and crafts.
The Adur District Council-owned building was previously a base for St John Ambulance but has been empty since last year.
The lease was put out for competitive tender earlier this year and won by Over the Moon, which will take over the building for a peppercorn rent on a temporary six-year lease until Adur District Council finalises longer term plans for this site. This is an example of how the Council is working to open up temporary uses of buildings to the community.
Previously based at Middle Road in Shoreham, Over the Moon is a non-profit community arts organisation that aims to encourage people to get creative with materials that might otherwise be thrown away.
Empty building to be a new community hub
The new hub, called The Circular Space, will be home to a scrap store – selling high-quality donated material such as beads, buttons and fabric that can be repurposed by families, schools, community groups and artists. It also has clay that has been donated by Portslade-based business Plunge Creations, which makes the costumes for ITV’s The Masked Singer.
The Circular Space will also be used for community events and workshops like art clubs, sewing lessons and craft coffee mornings. To celebrate the opening on 30th October there will be a host of free drop-in activities for people to take part in throughout the day.
Comments on Over the Moon’s new hub
Emily Phillips, director of Over the Moon, said: “We are very happy to finally be able to make use of a longstanding empty building in a way that will benefit the local community and provide a hub for sustainability projects and community creativity.”
Cllr Kevin Boram, Adur District Council Cabinet Member for Communities and Wellbeing, said: “Over the Moon will breathe new life into this empty building as well as engage the community in a wide range of activities that promote ways to support the environment and reduce waste while the council develops a long term regeneration strategy for this site.
“This ethos ties in with the Council’s sustainability plans and declared target to become carbon neutral by 2030.”
Over the Moon is keen to get the community involved with its new space and is looking for volunteers to help get the building ready for opening. There will be a Shoreham DIY SOS Weekend taking place on October 8th and 9th for anyone keen to help out. Visit www.weareoverthemoon.org/thecircularspace to find out more.
