London Sculpture Workshop seeks final donations for £50k crowdfunding campaign

London Sculpture Workshop is giving a final push to its crowdfunding campaign to raise £50,000 for a new community ceramics and foundry hub in south east London.

The facilities will be based at the organisation’s new site in Woolwich and will be free to the local community, offering practical sessions, open days and displays of artwork.

The campaign already has over 130 backers, including £20,000 pledged by the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. He described the project as “unique in its approach and innovative in its creative vision”.

The money raised will pay for numerous operational costs, including materials, equipment and labour for the construction of a hub building (£16,000), tutors’ fees (£10,000), materials for courses (£5,000), a technician (£3,360) and education officer (£1,680).

Jessica Mello, co-founder and director of London Sculpture Workshop, said: “The project will benefit everyone from youth projects to older people’s services and agencies supporting hard-to-reach groups.

“The Mayor of London has pledged money but we need to raise the additional amount… or we will not receive his pledge. This is an all or nothing model whereby we need to raise the full amount or we receive zero.”

Amongst those who have donated is Marcel Baettig, director of Bow Arts. He said: “This is such a needed service for artists and designers in London. Bow Arts has refered many people to the London Sculpture Workshop as they have the skills and equipment to help you realise your ideas.”

London Sculpture Workshop was established in 2012 by two founding members Giles Corby, MA (RCA) and Jessica Mello, MFA (Slade). It is run on an open-access membership basis, while also partnering with homeless charity CRISIS, offering their members access to a specially tailored educational programme.

The deadline for London Sculpture Workshop’s campaign is 1 September 2016. More info: www.spacehive.com

Images:
1. London Sculpture Workshop

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