David Parker, Figment Arts Artistic Director, tells us about an opportunity to help raise funds  to launch Port Studio, a permanent creative and community base at Shoreham Port. It will be a home for Figment Arts, the CIC he co-founded with learning-disabled, autistic and neurodivergent artists during the 2020 lockdown. It will also be a welcoming space for the wider community to meet, make, learn and build relationships. David says:

“In 2023, Artists Open Houses gave us something we had never had before: a room of our own. Taking over an empty shop space, during the AOH May festival, through a special bursary sponsored by Hannington’s Lane, Brighton, our studio artists worked alongside members of the public to create large-scale collaborative paintings across 12 open studio sessions. The response was extraordinary. 1,754 people came through the doors, 209 people made art with us, and we won the AOH Award for Best Artists Open House.

“That experience planted a seed. We had seen first-hand what a dedicated creative space could do for our artists and the wider community. Now we are working to make that permanent. Port Studio will be Figment Arts’ first long-term home, based at Lady Bee Marina in Shoreham Port, with a planned opening this Autumn. It will be a place where learning disabled, autistic and neurodivergent artists can develop their practice, lead public programmes, and be seen.  It will be a place where other groups and the local community can access low cost, high quality creative and artistic opportunities. A Room of Our Own was the proof of concept. Port Studio is the next step.

“We are raising £6,000 through a crowdfunder campaign to help make Port Studio a reality. If you visited or took part in our open studios in 2023, or if the work resonates with you, we would love your support. Every contribution counts.

Visit our crowd-funder:
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/figment-arts-port-studio

“Thank you for your support”

David Parker
Artistic Director Figment Arts