NEW ARTS AND CULTURE CENTRE OPENS IN BRIGG

Brigg has welcomed the addition of a new Arts and Culture Centre - part of it being located within one of the oldest buildings in the town. 
It is available for use by local groups and people as well as pupils.
Brigg's Coun Rob Waltham, as Leader of the local authority, says the new centre will help put the town on the map in terms of culture and the arts.

FROM KIRSTY WESTFIELD, NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL

The Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, Cllr Rob Waltham, has visited the brand new Brigg Arts and Culture Centre at Sir John Nelthorpe School.
The scheme - funded by the council and Sir John Nelthorpe Trust - cost £139,000.
To create the centre on the Grammar School Road site, the former school library has been sympathetically redeveloped to create a new entrance and reception area for the school. New toilets for visitors have been installed, including a disabled toilet.
As the building is listed, steps were taken to materially enhance the building and bring it into the 21st century in a considerate way.
The music and drama suite has been refurbished to provide space for visiting artists and local performers.
The new facility will host local, regional, and national artists, performers and groups, further raising the profile of Brigg as a centre for the arts in North Lincolnshire.
The centre is accessible to the community as well as the school’s pupils.
Cllr Rob Waltham (Brigg & Wolds), Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “It is around a year ago since this project first started when it was just an aspiration for Brigg. It is fantastic to see it become a reality, putting Brigg on the map as a place for culture and the arts.
“The Arts and Culture Centre is a brilliant space and we hope to see a range of local and national artists and performers to visiting.
“We are keen to continue working with local businesses and community groups to develop the centre further.”
The Arts and Culture Centre forms part of the school’s ‘Our Place in Time’ anniversary celebrations, in partnership with the council. It celebrates 350 years (1669 to 2019) of education on the grammar school site and 100 years (1919 to 2019) since the inception of the Girls’ High School (subsequently sited on Wrawby Road).
Robert Biglands, Head Teacher at Sir John Nelthorpe School, said: “This development marks a significant milestone for Sir John Nelthorpe School and for Brigg and the wider community. The versatility and size of the spaces available at the centre is a real strength and something that is unrivalled within Brigg.
“We are grateful to Brigg Town Council also for their grant of £2,000 towards chairs for the facility.
“The Brigg Arts and Culture Centre (BACC) trustees are very keen to speak to groups interested in making use of the facilities but also to speak to anyone who feels they could offer support to the running and management of the centre and the events that will take place here.”
Any enquiries about bookings, or support for the initiative, should be directed to briggartsandculture@gmail.com
Work was completed by Steve Ball Joinery.
 
NF adds: The former school library at SJN is within Brigg's only grade one listed building, dating back to the 1670s. We recently reported Brigg Town Council's £2,000 grant to provide furniture for the new centre, being at the meeting when councillors sanctioned this funding.

PICTURE ABOVE: Hannah Seddon, the Sir John Nelthorpe School Business Manager, with Coun Rob Waltham (centre) and Head Teacher Rob Biglands in the new centre.