LimitedEditionEssex55
The centre is set over two floors,
with 20 individual units built in, as
well as working and craft display
areas for painters, photographers,
potters, pyrographers (to the
layman, the art of decorating wood
by scorching), toymakers and
woolspinners. There is also a tea
room.
Each artist spends a day manning
the front desk, which not only gets
them involved in running the centre,
but also adds to the community feel
of the place, says Michael.
"The centre was a seedbed for a
lot of artists," said Michael."It was a
trial ground for many businesses."
With about 80,000 visitors a year,
the centre is still thriving thanks in
part to its location in picturesque
Dedham.
But the fact it is a commercial
venture, and not supported by any
public funding or grants, is what
makes Dedham Arts Centre such a
success story.
Michael explains:"The tenants are
like a little co-operative and look
after everything one day a week for
everyone else. In that way, we are
able to keep rents to what they are
(�175 a month).We all contribute
to the success of the centre."
There are currently about 20
craftsmen and women based at the
centre, including pastel artist Ruth
Burchert from Tiptree, Ruth Kilby
and her Big Feet Bears,
photographers Alan Bedding and
David Glynn and former Colchester
Sixth Form College student
Georgia Farthing.
Although the recession has meant
a recent drop in visitor numbers,
things are picking up again, says
Michael.
He adds:"Since March this year, it
has started to look really positive
again. I am quite optimistic it will be
a good summer for us."
Above, work by Georgia Farthing, and below, still recognisibly a church building, but filled with art

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