We had a tour of the new arts space at Edge Hill station today, its brilliant. Edge Hill is the oldest passenger railway station in the world, this is where the first trains ran to/from Liverpool before Lime Street was built. Trains still stop there but most of the buildings and approaches have been neglected for years.
Some of the space was used during the last couple of years, especially last year for exhibitions, talks and film nights.
Now Jude Kelly’s Metal Culture organisation, after a few years of planning, fund-raising and hard work, are about to open the buildings as an arts centre, I’m not sure of its correct title yet. The various arts organisation will be able to use the spaces for different events – exhibitions, drama, dance, music etc. There will be artists in residence, some studio spaces, desk space and other facilities.
The building has a great history and Metal are keen to focus on this, the reception area will include archive material and the old water tower will be turned into ‘the best waiting room in the world’.
Make a note in your diaries for 22 October 2009 for the opening of the Launch event and exhibition curated by Al and Al (the Liverpool Art Prize winners).
Tomorrow, Saturday 15 August 2009 (11.00 onwards), there is an open day where METAL are inviting people who have memories of the station and its surrounding community to tell their stories and share their memories for an archive that is being created as a permanent record of life at the station and its surrounding area.
