A NEW group is working hard to encourage Holsworthy’s creative side and locate a community gallery space, writes Zoë Uglow.

The newly formed Holsworthy Creative Enterprise art group has the backing of the town’s mayor Jon Hutchings and is looking to create a forum for artists of all ages in the town and provide a gallery space in which they can exhibit their work.

Instigator of the project, Dawn Brookes-Ensor, said the enterprise ‘is not a want, it is a need’ for artists in the Holsworthy area. Speaking about how the idea came to fruition, Dawn said: “I was the chair of the Bradworthy Arts Festival for five years but had to pass it on to Dave King and his team as I don’t live there anymore — they are doing a great job though carrying the festival on, which is great.

“Since moving to Holsworthy I have been in contact with a lot of artists in the area and have found it is not a want, it is a need to have an outlet and a space to exhibit the creative works of local people.”

She said the enterprise is a really positive project for the town: “It would be a fantastic draw for people and would make Holsworthy a destination instead of a just a drive through town as part of a commute.”

To make the enterprise a success the group needs 16 crafts people and 16 artists to take part. Dawn said: “We are hoping to get a gallery space somewhere in Holsworthy Square. In order to make this viable we would need 16 crafts people and 16 artists so two people could do two days a month in the gallery to split the load and make life more amenable.”

Many local artists and crafts people have already expressed their interest in the project but the group is still looking for more artists. Dawn said: “We artists aren’t very good at promoting ourselves, our mind set is that we would much rather be working. I am hoping this project will provide a support network where we can work together to promote ourselves.

“I am a sculptor myself and used to own a gallery space and it was hard work trying to find that constant balance between working and promoting the business. Hopefully if we all take on two days in the gallery each then it will be a lot easier and we will definitely be stronger in numbers.”

She said the only thing the group has left to do now is gain the funding they need to find that illusive gallery space.

“Once we have got the space there will be no stopping us. We already have some very strong artists involved who all just want to find a gallery space now. We have an appointment with MP Geoffrey Cox to talk about getting funding from him and we are already in talks with Ken Carroll from Torridge District Council and Barry Parsons of Devon County Council. Hopefully that will help boost funds. We also have a dedicated crowdfunder page so we can try to raise as much money as possible in order to buy a gallery/artists’ cooperative space in the square.”

The group is also looking to hold a number of events to promote its artists and encourage more creative types to get involved. For more information about future events visit their Facebook page, ‘Holsworthy Art Group’.

The group meets on the first Tuesday on the month at 7pm in the White Hart Hotel, Holsworthy. If anyone is interested in progressing and promoting art and crafts in Holsworthy and are interested in having an artist’s gallery in Holsworthy, they can take part by going to the Memorial Hall on November 18, between noon and 9pm, to see what the group is all about.