Groovy future planned for artists at mill
AMBITIOUS plans have been revealed which would see a former mill transformed into an arts and culture hub.
The project by Arts Council England would see Global Grooves’ current headquarters at Vale Mill in Mossley, Tameside, officially turned into creative space boasting theatre facilities, artist studios and a ‘Creating Carnival’ textile teaching facility.
The plan, which is expected to create four full-time roles and 32 part-time staff, is backed by Stalybridge and Hyde MP Jonathan Reynolds and Mossley town council.
Mr Reynolds said the proposal, which has been submitted to the borough’s planning department by Global Grooves boss Leon Patel, would create a ‘valuable cultural asset.’
Global Grooves has been operating from a number of sites, but last year one of their facilities suffered significant fire damage which ‘wiped out’ many of their artistic assets and left them to recover ‘huge operational costs.’
Their mission is to ‘unite and empower individuals and communities through opportunities to experience and create inspirational art: in particular diverse music, dance, visual arts and carnival.’ They run a range of programmes across the borough, including the youth programme ‘Future Leaders,’ and are behind the popular Mossley Light Festival.
A design and access statement by Architectural Emporium Ltd said that once further space became available at Vale Mill, it gave the company the opportunity to consolidate its facilities and secure its long-term future.
“The proposal as outlined here will not only deliver this site upgrade but also significantly reduce the impact on the surrounding residential areas by converting the Mill to artistic uses, rather than potentially noisy, heavily trafficked industrial uses that have been on the site previously,” the report states.
“The proposed development seeks to deliver regeneration for Mossley and Tameside as a whole and can significantly contribute to the local area.”
The lower ground floor would have a studio theatre which could host live events, including cinema shows, as well as a bar and kitchen. On the ground floor Global Grooves wants to create the UK’s ‘premier’ carnival textiles facility, complete with teaching rooms and music studio. The first floor would include a large-scale design studio.