Fishermen's Shed to be turned into community meeting place and art venue

Sidmouth's old Fishermen's Shed is to be turned into a meeting place and a venue for creative activities, thanks to National Lottery funding.

The Sidmouth Coastal Community Hub (SCCH) say they will use the award of nearly £10,000 to make the shed at the Ham 'a cosy, welcoming and accessible place to create art and connect with their town's heritage'.

In a statement, the SCCH said: "The Fishermen's Shed Space is being repurposed with integrity and a warm heart, a sense of connection to the coastal environment and fishing heritage; nurturing opportunities to be creative, curious, share stories and traditions and connect with others.

"In the space local creative facilitators with community members will explore ideas and experiences through art, digital and creative skills workshops. Working with volunteers and creative facilitators from our local network, the activities will be delivered from early spring."

Shed will be a base for Sidmouth Sea Fest organisers

The shed, which will be a Covid-secure environment, will provide a permanent residence for the organisers of the annual Sea Fest.

Louise Cole, Director at Sidmouth Coastal Community Hub, said: "The purpose of Sea Fest has always been to connect people to Sidmouth's history and its relationship with the sea through art culture and community connection.

"The shed will eventually, when complete and it is safe to, provide a place where people can sit, connect, create and chat. I think that's so important after the isolation of this last year.

"It's in these places that creativity can be sparked for everybody. We don't all have access to museums or art galleries. There is no cost or barrier for people to enjoy what we are doing here."

Coco Hodgkinson, Artistic Director of the project said: "We know that some people are really struggling with feeling isolated with local events having been cancelled.

"Small-scale Covid-safe activities are very difficult to achieve currently. In response we had the idea for this micro space where people can create and chat. We plan to exhibit what is created in what will be a mini gallery physically but also accessible digitally."

Sidmouth Town Council, who are trustees of the Fishermen's Sheds, supported Sidmouth Coastal Community Hub's project proposal earlier in the year and agreed to lease the space for this community purpose.

The SCCH are currently planning Sidmouth Sea Fest 2021 which will take place on The Ham, on Saturday, May 22.

The theme will be Rockpools, Reefs and Reconnecting, and the event will take place within the government guidelines at the time.