Hub artists move in

Community interest company Creative Arts Hub has spent the past nine months turning the former HQ nightclub into an arts centre offering gallery and studio space.

Work to turn the building in Huddersfield Road into an arts centre is still under way but some of the 13 studios have already been snapped up.

Artistic director Mark Milnes said: “There’s about half a dozen artists who are interested and have signed contracts. Some have been in working already.”

Since the lease was signed in October, the Creative Arts Hub team has been working with volunteers to completely renovate the building.

Mr Milnes said: “It’s an open plan area and had been a nightclub. We’ve had a lot of black paint to contend with but that’s gone now.

“We’re partitioning the space to create small flexible studios at the front of the building with plenty of light but also a gallery space.

“The back rooms were initially going to be used as storage but now we think there’s potential there and we can offer those a lot cheaper.”

The work is expected to be done in time for the centre to take part in the HOST open studio trail in September.

Mr Milnes said the company hopes to have a rolling programme of exhibitions running in the gallery by then.

He said: “We’ve been running some activities in Batley, but we’d like to do that sort of thing here in Mirfield too.”

In the meantime, Mr Milnes is encouraging anyone interested in renting a space or working with Creative Arts Hub on community projects to email [email protected] or call in to the studios for a chat.