New DIY Community Space Opens in Stockport

The Merseyway Workshop opens Friday 4^th December in the Merseyway Shopping Centre and will provide an exciting new space to include rolling exhibition space, free and accessible creative workshops, and retail opportunities for local business.

The Workshop is a collaboration between community focused design team Easy Peel Studio and community benefit society Plastic Shed. Alongside a group of volunteers they worked to transform what was once a shoe shop into a space where the local community can make, learn, share and inspire.

Tom Marrett, Easy Peel Studio co-founder, said, “The space will provide a valuable local provision for individuals who would not ordinarily have the opportunity to engage in such endeavours and we very much see this as a pilot for future projects, offering an alternative hands-on space where members of the public can gather, create and share – for little or no cost to themselves. The space very much supports the ethos behind the new One Stockport campaign which is about working collaboratively, connecting communities and promoting health and wellbeing.”

Recycling

The workshop will also provide the local community with facilities to drop-in and recycle plastic waste that can’t be recycled by the council – turning the waste into new and useful products for future use.

Local produce

There will be a retail area showcasing the finest crafts from artists and makers who will be displaying and selling their work, giving the public a chance to take a piece of art home with them and support local creatives, such On The Brink Furniture, Joe Hartley Ceramics, Over The County Culture Clothing, Easy Peel Studio Products, Plastic Shed Products and local Illustrators, Maisy Summer, Luca Shaw & Dylan Woodall. If you’re a local artist, get in touch with the Merseyway Workshop via the website https://www.merseywayworkshop.comthrough

Local Support

The project’s first crowdfunding campaign reached its target in just two days. £4k was raised which enabled the first phase of renovations. The team are working closely with other local artists, social enterprises, charities and businesses to ensure the space becomes something that the whole community can use and be proud of.

Keen to gather thoughts and suggestions from the pubic on what they would like to see and experience at Merseyway Workshop - ideas and feedback can be submitted via their social media.

Rachel Lewis, co- director at Plastic Shed said: “This is “building back better”. Having places on the high street put back into local hands means that it is connected to local people and accountable to the community. In the new normal it’s vital that we listen to what the community needs. We can’t wait to see how this space evolves as people use it. As a Stockport based social enterprise it’s a huge step forward for us and we’ll be able to deliver an even bigger social and environmental impact.”

The Space

The space consists of ground floor, including exhibition, workshop and retail space, which is open to the public. This is the first phase of the ongoing project, with plans to grow together as a community, following collaborations and feedback – watch this space!

The space will remain flexible during this time, taking into account people’s safety, running online activities and socially distanced events.

The team will be opening the space with its first interactive exhibition created by the collaboration of Easy Peel Studio and Plastic Shed, which allows for creative input from the public. Following that the exhibition space will see local artists featuring their work on rotation.

Don’t miss special commission by Becky Miller aka ermitsMOZE, which will see one of the front windows transformed into a stunning work of art. 

Victoria Nichol, Merseyway Centre Manager said: “We’re thrilled the centre is going to be home to such a fantastic project which will offer a wealth of creative opportunities for local people. And as we continue to live with the impact of Covid-19 it’s more important than ever that we work collectively to support the local community.”

Cllr David Meller, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economy at Stockport Council, said: “This is a great example of how we are diversifying the offer at Merseyway and are introducing new businesses such as this to compliment the retail environment. Town Centre’s are changing and we have to move with the times to ensure they continue to thrive and attract people for a number of different reasons.”

“The One Stockport campaign embraces the idea of the community working together and making sure that no one is left out and this certainly supports its mission and values.

   “I wish Merseyway Workshop well, it’s a fantastic initiative and one that I’m sure will be welcomed by local people.”