Praise as makers mill promotes arts
ASHOP which sells items by Macclesfield makers is going from strength to strength thanks to a cash boost from TV retail guru Mary Portas.
The Print Mill project, which has taken over an empty shop on Mill Street, sells products made by 16 local makers and artists as well as running silk screen printing workshops.
Diana Hamilton, an arts events project manager and heritage and culture co-ordinator for Cheshire East council, set it up after winning £10,000 from Mary Portas.
The project has a resident artist, Ralph McGaul, in a studio who is working with the Silk Museum to take inspiration from its archives of silk patterns from the town’s old silk mills to create items for sale at the Print Mill.
Macclesfield MP David Rutley praised the project after a recent visit.
Mrs Hamilton, a mum of two who lives in Macclesfield, said: “We won the money from Mary Portas for using an empty shop in a new and interesting way.
“I’m passionate about bringing people into the town centre by offering something a bit different. It’s shown me how many talented people we have in Macclesfield and it’s great to give them somewhere to display their items.”
The shop is manned by volunteers three days a week from 9.30am to 2.30pm but Diana said if they had more volunteers they could do more.
It can also be used as a site for other activities and exhibitions as well as supporting events such as the Barnaby Festival.
Plans are being developed to ensure that the site becomes self-sustaining, through the rent of studio space, retail sales and workshops. The mill is also working with Graeme Bristow, site leader at AstraZeneca and board member of Make it Macclesfield, to develop a strategy to protect its future.
The Mary Portas funding was provided by the Department for Communities and Local Government through Make it Macclesfield, which MP David Rutley helped to secure. A further £10,000 has since been provided by Macclesfield Town Council.
Mr Rutley has praised the project, he said: “I’m delighted with the pro- gress being made at the Print Mill, offering Macclesfield a new creative outlet for local arts and crafts.
“This project is the result of a lot of hard work by many people, I look forward to seeing how it progresses.”