Arts Side West and SPACE will continue to provide community arts at 6 West Street in Bristol’s Old Market area following after its online and paper petition (posts passim) gathered more than 1,000 signatures, Bristol24/7 reports today.
The venue was threatened with closure after Bristol City Council announced it wanted to rent the premises out commercially for £15,000 per year – not even petty cash in view the £60 mn. in budget savings (i.e. cuts) the council is stating it will have to find in the next few years.
The council went back on its original decision after a series of meetings was held with deputy mayor Cllr. Estella Tincknell.
Emma Harvey of Trinity Community Arts, which manages the venue, is quoted as follows by Bristol 24/7:
The support we’ve received from the public has been amazing…a big thank you to those involved who have helped us to achieve this fantastic outcome for Old Market.