Re:generation

  ‘Hope Herrings’

A new exhibition organised by a group of young volunteers and entitled ‘Re:generation’ is running at the Central Library, Great Yarmouth, from  5th – 12th March 2011 . The community exhibition celebrates memories of Great Yarmouth and the town’s current regeneration.  The opening times are: Monday & Wednesday 9am-7.30pm, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 9am-6pm and Saturday 9am-5pm.

 The exhibition features archive material and artist’s work along with recollections and stories of the town provided by members of the community, all of which relates to the theme of regeneration.  Amongst the 12 artists exhibiting are three ex-Great Yarmouth School of Art and Design students, Nigel Moody, Colin Giles and John Clifford.  Also exhibiting are Manuel Seixas, Adam Shawyer and Belona Greenwood, three of the artists commissioned to create work for the King Street Regeneration project.  Other selected artists are Ben Simons, Harry Baker, Chris Han, Paul Zawadzski, Julian Claxton, Paul Howard and Sandra Rowney.   These were selected by a panel of judges, who were looking for work which most clearly related to regeneration and with links to Great Yarmouth.

Work produced by young residents at the Aspire Young Persons Centre is also included in this show, along with the ‘Hope Herrings’ installation shown above, produced by local young people who took part in creative workshops.  The ‘Hope Herrings’ are textile fish which have attached to them a hope for the future for Great Yarmouth and are displayed on fishing net coming out of a fishing boat.

The Re:generation exhibition is part of a national project, which creates youth led arts-based volunteering opportunities. The programme is funded by V Inspired; an independent charity for 16 -25 year olds, supported by an Eastern Region consortium including Great Yarmouth based Seachange Arts. The programme gives volunteers the opportunity to develop their skills, gain experience and bring positive benefits to their community.

St. Georges Chapel, Great Yarmouth, photograph by Adam Shawyer

Congregational Hall, Greyfriars

It is heartwarming to see another historic building being saved and given a new life.  Building work started on the Old Congregational Hall this month after two health projects  in Shrublands, Gorleston and Greyfriars, Great Yarmouth representing nearly £5m of investment were given the final go ahead.

Kate Gill, Director of Corporate Affairs at NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney, said: “This is a significant investment which once again underlines our commitment to ensuring our patients have easy access to high quality services, delivered in a modern, fit for purpose environment where the commitment of the NHS locally to clinical teaching can also be fulfilled.

The scheme at Greyfriars will see the Congregational Hall converted into a permanent home for the neighbouring GP-led health centre and walk-in clinic, which is open 12 hours a day, 365 days a year.  The Greyfriars Health Centre, currently housed in temporary buildings next door  provided a service which was the first of its kind in the region when it opened in May 2009.

“All of the existing services offered at Greyfriars, such as blood tests, weight management and drug and alcohol services, will continue in the new development. We will also be able to make clinical space available for use by our health and social care partners, which means our patients will gain from the added convenience of accessing all the services they need under one roof.”  Construction work is due for completion by summer 2011.

Changing Environment

  Abbey Pottery Revealed, King St. 28.10.09, B.Heriz

Work is growing apace in the renovation of King Street.  This old shop facade was revealed last week.   There is an article in the 30.10.09 edition of  the Mercury about riverside developments in Cobholm, which could begin in 18 months time:  Bure Harbour Quay will provide flats and town houses on the riverfront, though Cobholm residents are being asked to give their views first before planning permission can be granted. 

Also announced in the Mercury is news about Great Yarmouth’s historic Vauxhall Bridge, with hopes that it can be restored as a pedestrian gateway to the town. Norfolk County Council engineers, who are working on a feasibility study looking at a range of options for the River Bure bridge, have been given vital extra breathing status by the scheme’s potential funder.

Far-reaching changes in the built environment will suddenly be upon us and it would be nice to collect an archive of images before these take place.  Any contributions would be welcome – please email jpgs to b.herizsmith@btinternet.com, or  log on to the site as a contributor to start posting for yourself!    Drawings/paintings  would be very welcome indeed, just email to the above address if help is needed to scan or photograph images for uploading to the site.

  Renovation in Progress, King Street, 28.10.09, B.Heriz