Getting started

I've just been to visit Hayley in the attic. It has made me think about Artlink and all the changes through the past thirty odd years... All that blood sweat and tears that has gone into supporting and sustaining the work that we do for disadvantaged groups. It is quite awe inspiring when you look at it over time. 


I am so proud that we have finally achieved what no man(woman) has done before us, and finally got a fit for purpose building with a lift to all four floors! There were plans and discussions; many of them, from the looks of it, over the years. There are views of the garden as it was in 1990 when they revamped the front and back. We redid it in 2005 when it had become a jungle of bindweed in the back garden. 


When I first came to Artlink there was only Hayley and I. I remember walking into the building for my interview and thinking; 'something needs to be done about this building.' Then followed many years of hard work and sheer determination. Without the support of the many staff here over that time and particularly Hayley, this vision would not have come to fruition.


Firstly, there was the 'Options Appraisal'. For this we applied to Grants for the Arts (good old G4A who we will sadly have to say good-bye to after this year), and the appointment of a consultant. This was all brave new territory for me. We interviewed five and appointed Yvonne Deane who has been our stalwart ever since! This was 2004. After the SWOT  (not a fly killer) we ascertained with the board that although rather mad, the idea of keeping the building and trying to do something was a good one. A bit crazy and with some risks attached. Of course I had the bit between the teeth by then; 'community legacy', 'something for the future' and the dye was cast. Little did I know. The then Chair of the board did say something along the lines of it being a 'huge undertaking', but what you don't know.....


The next stage was applying for yet more funding to commission a feasibility study with a little more help from Grants for the Arts. Yet again we interviewed. This time it was five firms of architects. Groundworks LLP won it hands down with the charm and clarity of one of their lead architects Alison Davis. And so the story began.