BREAKING NEWS: Fishmarket art gallery offered new home
A new home has been found for the Fishmarket gallery, which will have to move from its current location as it has been earmarked as the site for Northamptons new bus interchange.
Northamptonshire County Council has offered the gallery a four-storey building at No. 9 Guildhall Road, metres away from the Royal & Derngate.
At the same time, Northampton Borough Council has agreed funding with Fishmarket of £25,000 a year for the next three years.
Cllr Heather Smith, county council cabinet member for customer and community services, said: “We are delighted to announce a new home for the Fishmarket gallery.
“The venue boasts a central location, directly opposite the museum and art gallery, adjacent to Guildhall and just a few metres away from the Royal & Derngate.
“This gives the opportunity to collaborate more closely with cultural partners and contribute to the establishment of a strong cultural quarter in the historic centre of Northampton.”
The Fishmarket curator, Catherine Hemelryk, will work with artists to develop a programme of contemporary art exhibitions which will benefit from the range of spaces on offer: from smaller, more intimate spaces, to larger, brighter halls and a high-walled courtyard for events or large-scale sculptural installations.
A spokesman for Fishmarket said: “The Fishmarket board of directors would like to express their gratitude to the county council and borough council for agreeing their continued support for the activities, events and exhibitions which Fishmarket are dedicated to offering.
“Fishmarket will work towards opening up the upper floors to offer a range of spaces for performance events, including music and comedy programmes, education workshops, artist studios, creative small business and artists residencies.
“The location, and in particular the courtyard which links to the Royal & Derngate buildings, offers the potential to develop No. 9 Guildhall Road into a central hub where collaborative projects, shared with our partners, can be presented.”
Councillor David Mackintosh, leader of Northampton Borough Council, said he was pleased that that the three organisations had reached such a positive agreement.
“We are very pleased to be able to support the Fishmarket and the vibrancy they add to Northampton’s arts and culture scene. We worked hard with Northamptonshire County Council to find them a suitable new base and I’m sure this central location will work well for them.
“The bus interchange project is a vital part of the regeneration of Northampton but it was important to all of us to help the Fishmarket keep a base in the town. I am glad we have been able to work together to achieve that.”
Email to a friend
Print this page- BREAKING NEWS: Tributes paid to Niamh Curry as brave five-year-old loses battle against cancer
- BREAKING NEWS: Pensioner dies after collision at Northampton shopping centre
- Man tied to tree and beaten on Northampton Racecourse
- BREAKING NEWS: Woman’s body found after ‘suicide’ in Northampton hotel room
- BREAKING NEWS: Seven-year-old boy dies following house fire in Northamptonshire
- Northampton binmen at ‘breaking point’
- Staff strike at Northampton school over academy plans forces closure
- Saints’ stadium plans get support as long as traffic issues solved
- Eastern European pupils helping school standards across Northampton
- Exclusive: PM David Cameron says Northamptonshire Police Commissioner role is “a big job for a big local figure”
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Northampton
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 47 comments to this article
Page 1 of 4
4x4 fan
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 08:36 AMWith regards to the comment that the fishmarket was on one level so access for the the mobile was easy, yet the new location is a four storey property, we should be able to see how NBC deal with the constraints of planning law - all public and business properties MUST have ramp access for the disabled if steps are needed to gain entry, Fire exits, doors into and round the property MUST be able to accomodate wheel chairs. So lets see how NBC get round these obsticles! Listed property or not. Am sure they will find some clause round this.
Laurence1211
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 12:13 AMI think this is a good thing, i'm not a massive art fan but places like this are important. I'm looking forward to it being open!
cllrclochemerle
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 08:10 AMThe Fishmarket was (is) single storey so little or no problems for access by people with mobility problems. The suggested new site is reported as being four storeys. Is there an access lift, and if not, who will provide one and at what cost?
jaynetta
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 11:19 PMGreat news for the biggest town in the UK. Well done fishmarket! Well done NBC leadership too. Readers unfamiliar with how arts funding works wont know that the borough's investment (a salary commitment - gross! - i.e. job creation!) is a lever for wider funding and so brings attention from other agencies to the town. Why do people think 'art', thought and creative endeavour a frippery? Crazy. Even if its not your bag and it prompts you to make something of your own in .. job done. Fulfillment outside mere existence is a basic human right. Come on everyone; there are bigger public sector arguments to be had. And in the new creative economies (business attraction), why would people move to the town unless there was some kind of scene ? I've heard it personally - many times. I am incredulous that the Borough's brave investment which will release a roughly 3-1 investment from outside is being criticised.
Jenks
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 10:41 PMIt saddens me that upon reading this good news story - that a local arts centre has found a new home - all some people choose to do is post negative, ill-informed comments; and choose to zero in on the £25k contribution that the Borough Council is making towards this. Whilst £25k is a lot of money to you and me, NBC has a budget of millions of pounds a year, so this is a small fraction of that. Only a proportion of the Borough Council's funding comes from council tax anyway, so to say that all of this £25k is coming from council tax payers is plain wrong in any case. NBC has a duty to spend some of its budget on cultural services, and to my mind this is money well spent. I've been to the Fishmarket numerous times for various events, and it's a wonderful place that is well loved by all who use it. And before you start shouting "if you use it then pay for it", I do already as the fantastic comedy gigs they put on that I go to charge for admission. I also spend money in the marvellous Nook cafe. Perhaps some of the moaners on here should actually visit the Fishmarket before passing judgement. In recent years I've been to the Fishmarket far more often than the Derngate or the Royal, as they have had better things on. I hope they'll be very happy in their new home. Come on people, support your town!
Kodachromatic
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 07:46 PMI think Northampton needs a strong independent arts scene; one that is not reliant upon commercial sponsorships and allows artists to express themselves freely. The Fishmarket Gallery has done just that. The Fishmarket has been a great benefit to Northampton. It's not just about putting pictures on walls either. Let's not forget the free 'Folk in the Afternoon' or 'Blues in the Afternoon' music sessions hosted by The Nook, or any of the other excellent events that the gallery has hosted. Only two weeks ago I - and many others - enjoyed Josie Long's outspoken, dissenting performance at The Nook Cafe, which would not have happened had the gallery been sponsored by Big Business P.L.C. I didn't agree with everything she said but I'm glad she had an independent venue in which to say it. Perhaps 'The Count', 'forgetnot' and the other numpties weren't there. Perhaps they were at home watching EastEnders... I'm happy that my council tax money helps fund these events. Long may Northampton's independent arts scene thrive. Life isn't just about streetlights and Here's wishing the Northampton Arts Collective well in its new home.
Links
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 06:10 PMI find myself in the unusual position of erring on the side of both TheCount and Tony Clarke on this one. I can see both sides of the argument and I've argued in favour of funding arts venues in the past, but for me there's a big difference between funding a facility like the Royal and Derngate from the public purse and funding the Fishmarket. The former is enjoyed by thousands of people every week and draws people into the town while the latter serves a relatively tiny number of people. In better times it's a worthwhile luxury, but under the current circumstances spending money on such a minority venue seems like an unnecessary extravagance.
Tony Clarke
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 05:59 PMWhat about those of us who still think the council at present couldn't run a whelk stall, yet think this is still good news? You need to not put people in boxes as pro and anti the council or the town just because they express a differ opinion, after all that's what "comments" boxes are for. The real difficulty thought present from someone like me who has always advocated for bread and circus's is that they have rationed the bread (streetlights, PCSO's etc) whilst keeping the circus (arts funding) buts as East Midlands arts have not yet discovered wher Northampton is I wish the collective well in their new home. And perhaps if we discover the new Damien Hirst, then they might feel obliged to give something back to fund future success at the centre?
ForGodsSakeStopBeingSoMiserable
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 05:19 PM#28 You're absolutely right Lady Muck. What Northampton really needs to set it back on the road to prosperity is half a dozen bystanders sneering and sniping at anyone that tries to do something. If those people appear to do little more than sneer and snipe, rather than get involved in their community and try and actually make a positive contribution, so much the better. We don't want our professional moaners becoming sidetracked with useful stuff now do we? If you mixed in a few positive and encouraging comments into your monochromatic swill of misery and hopelessness, perhaps you will find your comments gain more credibility.
TheCount
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 05:19 PMepstrobes - Spot on. Unfortunately the people in charge of spending seem to think the good times are still here !!!
TheCount
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 05:16 PM38 ForGodsSakeStopBeingSoMiserable - No one is saying you can't have an art gallery, just you need to pay for it yourself !!! We're not complaining about the arts or an art center. We're complain about the use of public money to "do something" for a tiny minority, meanwhile people are losing jobs and street lights are switched off. How thick skinned do you need to be to ignore this fact. This is a luxury the tax payers should not be asked to pay for. It's like massive subsidy for the theater. Let these art projects stand on their own two feet, see if the public really support them.
epstrobes
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 04:42 PMThis spending is bread and circuses at a time when NCC is switching off the lights and NCC and NBC are withdrawing support for PCSOs I am not against arts projects they can of course provide great enjoyment and solace and contribute to our overall well-being. However when money is limited then priorities are necessary and this doesn't rate highly in my list
one foot in
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 04:14 PMPioneering ideas are often mocked by those who don't understand their full value. How about simply thinking of Fishmarket as a good idea not fully realised in its current building, but being given wings elsewhere. Give it a chance - you may be proven wrong - look at the logistics of the new building and its scope for growth. It's potentially huge if everyone gives it backing. Fishmarket was born when I was disenfranchised about the town. It gave me hope that something like this was around! I'm not alone - and frankly it would have been a stronger place had even more people known about it. Art and design are all around you - even in the design of the computer you are using..never know, you may be nurturing the next best thing!
epstrobes
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 04:07 PMThe balance sheet for 31 March 2011 shows a profit of £100,192, last years being £140,069 If some of this relates to unspent maintenance grants provided by NBC then perhaps it should go back to the council Dear Cllrs Smith and Mackintosh may I have the use of a council owned building, rent and rates free with utilities and maintenance paid for out of the public purse with which to run a business
supportyourtown
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 04:06 PMWow, it's heartwarming to see all the positive comments this story has inspired, nothing spreads faster than goodwill.
Page 1 of 4
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.