1 week Ago
Fabrication, a social enterprise, which until recently was in the old River Island shop in Coney Street, has turned two vacant units in Feasegate - the old Costa and Subway shops - into a gallery and artists’ workshop with a shop opening in the old Cath Kidston taking on a third empty city centre site housing 65 sellers when full. Recommended reading: Owner, Dawn Wood, and the team welcomed the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire David Skaith who got a guided tour of all three premises, meeting the artists and makers at an official launch event. In Feasegate there are 20 pods across the building with 18 of them occupied by local artists, the youngest of whom is 11.
Fabrication in Stonegate (Image: Haydn Lewis) Full-time artist Peter Monkman who has one of the pods said: "A lot of young artists from York end up going to London, Sheffield or Leeds, but it's about keeping them here in the city. "We need cutting edge cultural industries and Fabrication is nurturing talented young creatives in preparation for that." Artist Peter Monkman talking to Mayor David Skaith and owner Dawn Wood (Image: Haydn Lewis) Focused on the ‘messy side of making’, the workshop is occupied by a variety of hands-on creatives from painters to jewellery makers – each of whom has a mini workshop ‘pod’ and a community space.
The cooperative has taken out an 18-month lease in Feasegate and signed up for ten years in Stonegate. One of the makers Wendy Harris of PQ Soy Wax Candles, who has a studio in the Feasegate building, said: "The PQ in my business name stands for peace and quiet because I set up in 2018 and originally was working out of my sparebedroom, but working at home for five years was incredibly difficult. "A place like this is invaluable to me as it's affordable and means I can get out of the house and go to a workplace.
" Wendy Harris with Dawn Wood and Fabrication director and botanical artist, Emma Manners (Image: Haydn Lewis) Dawn said: "To have David here is a huge honour and it shows that this kind of project is supported in York and is seen as needed. It's really great for our 80 members. "I know David from his Indie York days and I'm thrilled he could make it and he sees what we are trying to achieve.
"Fabrication started out life in Leeds in 2008 and he have a ten year lease in Briggate and we continue to grow in York. "We will also be involved in York Fashion Week and they are going to use Feasegate as a hub at the beginning of May." Mr Skaith said: "I have been heavily involved in the high street for about 15 years.
Having my own business I know how hard it is to get started and open. "Having that step into taking on a lease is incredibly expensive to do. "Having spaces like this where ten or 15 or 20 people are operating together out of the same space is invaluable.
"Working on my own for ten years I know how lonely it can be and challenging at times. "Projects like this are about strength in numbers - if one of the artists or creatives posts on social media everyone benefits." Mayor David Skaith and owner Dawn Wood outside Fabrication in Stonegate (Image: Haydn Lewis).
