There are art, embroidery, bookbinding and other art and craft societies and clubs in Winchester, I am sure there are carpenters and metal workers, for example, who would like a workshop they could share with others, but no central point where these separate activities can make use of common facilities.
The Bookbinding Club, Southern Bookcrafts Club, www.southernbookcrafts.org, where bookbinding is taught and practised, with which I am involved, and, being successful, is in need of additional space. We would like to see established, alongside us, a print workshop, a marbling studio, and, perhaps, a paper making/repair centre, creating a nationally unique book centre, where paper might be handmade, books can be printed, bound, provided with decorative papers, with people being taught these crafts, while catering for art book design and creation, all using the same facilities.
Ideally, there would be a common workshop space, with adjacent activity centres around it, so that the common workshop space is used for each activity and the adjacent space for the establishing of equipment and storage areas. Paper making, bookbinding, art books, printing, marbling and, say, embroidery could be allocated days/times for their relevant clubs to use the common workshop area, while the separate activity centres would allow their relevant activity to be undertaken by a limited number at all times.
There could be a permanent art studio for the various drawing, watercolour and oil painting groups to use and, indeed, a carpentry and metal work shops areas provided for clubs/groups to use – and I am sure that there are other arts and crafts activities, currently undertaken in Winchester, which could benefit themselves and the community by having a “home” where people can learn their chosen craft, use common facilities and, most importantly, can join in.
Winchester could lead the way in the provision of community art and craft activity, providing education, enjoyment and social intercourse for our community. The Riverside provides that opportunity, providing for the community, while expanding available activities for students of Winchester School of Art. One learns more from working with others than one ever does from a teacher.
John Seager Green,
St Cross Road,
St Cross,
Winchester
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