'Pop Art' transforms Blackburn town centre

 

An empty interior design store in Blackburn town centre received a new lease of life when artists took over on Monday February 1st.

The former Waterloo Pavilion shop has been transformed into a drop-in style learning centre operated by artists and other groups who will run workshops and events for local people.

The six week Project Our Place scheme (POP) is part of the national Living Places initiative to promote the use of culture and sport in regenerating towns and cities and was set up by the Museums and Libraries Archive Council (MLA).

Living Places Chair Roy Clare said: “The Our Place project is all about creating new opportunities for local people and bringing new life to town centres.

“We want the Blackburn shop to do just that by inspiring the confidence, creativity and curiosity of everyone who walks through the door.”

People visiting the former Waterloo Pavilion store over the next six weeks will get the chance to try their hand at something new - drawing, painting, writing poetry, playing a musical instrument or dancing.

The £50,000 Our Place project, funded by the Government’s Transformational Fund, is one of three distinct schemes planned to breathe new life in to empty Blackburn shops.

The weekend was the highlight of the first week with students from Blackburn college visiting the shop on Friday - they left very positive comments, about the space, ambiance and the creative activities. On Saturday there were at least 102 visitors. The majority were young people who stayed for a considerable amount of time and were interested in more information about the planned sessions for the forthcoming weeks.