First, a little background
SAFE have been based since 2006 in what is now called St Mary’s Complex in Bootle, Church of England Primary School premises that became vacant following a formal decant of pupils. A Tenancy at Will governs the tenure of the premises, a mutually beneficial situation for SAFE and the Church of England as Landlord in the short-term. However, it is not a sustainable solution for either party.
Key developments in the locality led senior management to begin business appraisal of establishing a new, fit-for-purpose Arts, Enterprise and Wellbeing Centre to serve the population of South Sefton and wider communities of interest across Greater Merseyside and the North West region:
- British Waterway’s £22M restoration project of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal Link along the Liverpool Waterfront World Heritage Site
- SAFE (in partnership with Taylor Fabrications) being commissioned and supported by South Sefton Development Trust to install an interrelated series of public art works along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal – the Plant Life Sculpture Trail (2008)
- The synergy between the emergent creative social enterprise cluster in St Mary’s and the priority of developing a fit-for-purpose operational base for SAFE
What are our aims?
- A resource that can help sustain and promote professional arts practice and local entrepreneurs in the creative industries
- An arts marketplace and centre of inclusive education with local people
- Support for artists and creative (social) enterprises working in the public realm
- Accessible, affordable Business Incubation Units
- ICT infrastructure and facilities
- Café services
Envisaging the future
The critical task now is to secure a suitable site that can host our planned developments. We are currently seeking a mixed development package including loan, grant and equity-based financing.
The proposed Centre will serve a multitude of functions but, in essence, its purpose is:
- to act as an engine for change in the delivery of community and participatory arts to wider audiences, and
- to enable all partners to offer services, in a more sustainable way, alongside their communities of interest
SAFE has benefitted considerably through a positive relationship with Daniel Smith and colleagues at McHugh Stoppard Architecture – initial designs for a site adjacent to the Leeds-Liverpool Canal highlight a passionate and innate appreciation of our vision:
