Shademakers have announced that – in partnership with the Isle of Wight Council – they have been awarded almost £250,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to support the transformation of Department in Ryde. This funding – which is thought to be in addition to £2million already announced – will enable the repair and conservation of parts of this important Grade II listed building – including the façade and garret rooms which are of great heritage value. It will also record, catalogue and celebrate the building’s social history. The project will transform the 1st and 2nd floors of this Grade II listed former department store into high-quality spaces for the community and creatives, echoing the building’s history over the past 150 years. It will celebrate the heritage of the building from when it was the hardware and electrical store Woods and Wilkins in the 1800s through to the late 1960s when it became Packs & Culliford department store and latterly the Elizabeth Packs clothing shop. As part of this funding, an exhibition of artefacts discovered during the building renovations will be on display when Department reopens next year. This will go alongside a collection of oral histories and a performance inspired by the building’s past. This will be collected through working with the community and local history groups as well as public open days. Department will become a new cultural space in the heart of Ryde town centre, offering a space to dream big, create, display, perform, learn, and exchange skills. As previously announced, the transformation of the building has received funding from the Department of Culture Media and Sport as part of their Cultural Development Fund also in partnership with the Isle of Wight Council. 
Sharon George, Creative Director of Shademakers, has said:
“The Department, Ryde has always been more than bricks and mortar. Its story has been tucked away behind floorboards, wallpaper, false walls and hidden in the photo albums and newspapers of the local community.” “This project will allow us to work with wide range of community volunteers and groups to unpack its historical timeline and reveal fully its heritage for the first time.”
Councillor Julie Jones Evans, Isle of Wight Council Cabinet member for Economy, Regeneration, Culture & Leisure, adds:
“This is another fantastic demonstration of the value of partnership working and the confidence national funding bodies have in the Island’s creative sector to deliver major, conservation-led cultural projects by and for Island people.”
Stuart McLeod, Director of England – London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, has commented:
“We’re delighted to support this exciting project that will transform a Grade II listed building into a new space for Ryde’s community.” “This project is a great example of partners coming together to create a new and usable space, that will share the hidden stories of its past with new archive collections and exhibitions.” “This investment will be felt across the community, bringing heritage to life and allowing this building to thrive once more.”
Well done Ryde for getting funding. Fantastic effort. If only Sandown, the prettiest bay on the Island and a great natural resource, could attract such dynamism.
I give it three years. Totally reliant on hand outs, which will soon dry up. There is clearly no sustainable model. Just an indulgence really.
So you’ve shown you have absolutely no idea who Shademakers are, their provenance and previous projects including their commissions and rhe Queens Jubilee Pageant. Do your homework before you show yourself up any further.
Considerably different to putting together some carnival costumes. Ask me again in three years when it all goes pear shaped.
You’ve just reinforced my point
As have you. No details. No idea. Just go ahead and burn the money on an “exhibition of artefacts discovered during the building renovations … a collection of oral histories and a performance inspired by the building’s past.” I am sure it will be fascinating to some deluded navel gazers. But utterly dull in reality. No suggestions regarding how this place might pay its own way because it won’t. Just expecting hand outs to put up dull displays.
Well done Sharon and everyone concerned. This kind of lottery funding doesn’t come without hundreds of hours of graft and dedication. Shows the confidence in Shademakers and the future of The Department.
O I always thought this site would be ideal as an indoor market with catering outlets. Glad to see it’s having a future one way or another
2.25 million Pounds? For what, exactly?
What does all this actually mean:
‘record, catalogue and celebrate the building’s social history’
‘a collection of oral histories and a performance inspired by the building’s past’
‘a new cultural space’
‘a space to dream big, create, display, perform, learn, and exchange skills’
‘unpack its historical timeline’
‘conservation-led cultural projects’
‘share the hidden stories of its past’
It was a shop, wasn’t it? What’s all this stuff about its social history and timeline?
So, what’s it actually going to be now? A museum? A place where arty types can discuss things? How will it pay for itself?
At the end of the day, I suppose it’s better than an empty shop, but 2.25 million Pounds?
It is undoubtedly a White Elephant. Purposeless, expensive, and an indulgence. Somewhere for navel gazers to pat themselves on the back and burn money. And you can guarantee that those running it will be taking a tidy portion of the funds as salaries. I would be surpised if it is ever finished.