From builder's yard to artistic space: Ventnor Exchange's vision for Ingram's Yard

Ventnor Exchange, the award winning local arts organisation which runs a venue in the town on Church Street as well as the annual Ventnor Fringe, has unveiled exciting ambitions to restore and transform a former builders yard into a vibrant creative and community space.

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Named ‘Ingram’s Yard’ after the family business which worked on the site since 1840, a fundraising appeal has been launched to kickstart the project and raise the initial funds needed to get the project off the ground.

Inside the old Ingrams building © Maria Bell Photography — *Inside the old Ingram’s building © Maria Bell Photography*

Co-Director Jack Whitewood explained,

“Ingram’s Yard will be a place where artists, craftspeople and creative start ups can test and refine their ideas. A place where you can learn new skills, with the type of messy workshop spaces we don’t currently have at the Exchange, as well as a lot more room for facilities like a large rehearsal studio perfectly suited to activities like drama, dance and yoga.”

The outside yard of the old Ingrams building © Maria Bell Photography — *The outside yard of the old Ingram’s building © Maria Bell Photography*

Co-founder Mhairi Macaulay added,

“It will be a place that hosts a wide programme of events, along with a new outdoor market with street food, craft, design and vintage throughout the year, and it will provide major new infrastructure for Ventnor Fringe, giving the town centre a key new venue to draw in audiences.”

Background
Ventnor Exchange was first established with the support of a crowdfunding campaign in 2014 as a ‘pop up’ venue and over the past nine years has gradually transformed the old Post Office building to host a bar, cafe, record store, co-working and theatre, open seven days a week throughout the year and employing seven people.

Funds raised will be used to set up the regular market and open artist studios, creating a sustainable income while plans are drawn up for the more substantial alterations needed in a second phase.

Whitewood: Crowdfunder is about bringing parts of the space to life
Jack explained,

“The opportunity to use this amazing building has come about very suddenly and unexpectedly. It’s very exciting, but will take time to make the designs and obtain permissions needed to do everything we want to achieve.
“This crowdfunder is about bringing parts of the space to life much earlier so it doesn’t sit empty for years, and it will preserve the building for community use down the line, but we need your help to make it happen.”