Riboleau Resource Centre in Ryde has been given a new lease of life as a creative venue for the town.
Previously used as a mental health day centre, it will soon re-open as a new creative venue at the heart of Ryde ‘Riboleau Studios’.
Set up by local artists Laura Hathaway and Kathy Williams, it is hoped the new creative space will be used by the local community as well as established artists. Riboleau Studios will offer low-cost artist studios, teaching, exhibition and workshop space alongside gardens which will link to the successful Green Island Vegetable Economy ‘GIVE’, established by Holly Maslen during the lockdown of 2020.
Kathy explains:
“We aim to run art courses for a wide demographic of people in response to what the need is. With the permanent presence of artist studios, gardens, a counselling space and outside workshop we think the creativity will feed into the whole area”.
Laura adds:
“I am excited to have the chance to respond to the environment, the building and wonderful garden in my new work. The potential to grow our existing teaching practice is huge and we look forward to working with new students, artists and the island community”.
Article continues below this advertisement
Kathy and Laura will be joined by local creatives Holly Maslen, Tim Fawcett, Tal Tallack and Jennifer Langan.
It is hoped the new Riboleau Studios will not only be used as artist studios but as a pop-up exhibition space, hire for choral/music/local meetings, artist talks, gardening, food production, wilderness meditation and more.
If you would like to know more or have any ideas you would like to share then email [email protected].
Kick the mental patients out, that’s art.