MP helps mark 10 years of art group

SOUTHPORT’S most established artists’ network, Southport Contemporary Arts (SCA), welcome local MP Damien Moore to its studios.

This year, SCA celebrates its 10th anniversary.

In 2009 it started from a small stall in Southport Market, but as the founders’ vision has been realised, it now operated in two large properties in Eastbank Street.

Mr Moore enjoyed a tour of SCA’s Town Centre Gallery, Art House and artists’ studios.

On the premises at Eastbank Street SCA has the Art House gallery that provides a platform for local artists to showcase and sell their work.

To date SCA has sold £42,000 of work on behalf of the local artists.

The Southport MP went on to see the teaching side of SCA, by visiting the Clay Works and Arts Loft teaching studios in 111B Eastbank Street.

SCA runs a wide range of classes in painting, drawing, textiles and ceramics, teaching 90 students a week.

Over the years the directors of SCA have stressed the importance of giving back to the community, they now have a charity programme where they make bags for cancer patients needing breast drains and “fiddle muffs” for dementia patients.

Norrie Beswick-Calvert, joint director, said: “We were very pleased to be able to show Damien Moore MP the scope of our organisation’s work and the impact that it has on our local community.

“It was encouraging to see our local MP take a keen interest in helping our organisation. At a critical point in our forward planning, we discussed the potential growth of SCA and the variety of benefits that creativity can bring to the ever-changing nature of our town centre and Southport’s offer to both residents and visitors alike.”

Mr Moore said: “I was encouraged by how SCA have been able to grow over the last 10 years by supporting local people in Southport and in turn helping the local economy.

“Their rolling charity work for cancer and dementia patients is a credit to the way they always put the community at the heart of their projects.”