RECENT AWD RESTORATIONS VOLUNTARY PROJECTS: a blog by alan denyer

Unlike many cities of a similar size Coventry doesn’t have much of a culture scene - I’ve traveled a lot, and love coming across unexpected examples of grassroots creativity; street art, ‘happenings’ in small bars or cafes, arts/theatre takeovers of interesting spaces. For me there’s something priceless about the how these places speak of local community - and how they encourage unexpected connections between us all.

So basically, for the last few years (in my spare time, in-between running a Property Restoration Business) I’ve been trying to make a difference - creating spaces where local people can gather and feel inspired to practice and/or experience culture in all its forms; arts, heritage, theatre, music, film, stories.. gifting my time, expertise and money to transform under-utilised buildings into places where grassroots culture can thrive.

For me, it’s all about making Coventry a more interesting place to visit or spend time in - and the ‘pay-off’ is seeing the spaces I’ve created, getting vibrant use.

Here are a few examples of what I’ve been involved in recently; -

1

LTB SHOWROOMS (2021)

I’ve long been of the view Coventry doesn’t have enough publicly accessible, large, characterful buildings to encourage & showcase local grassroots creativity (particularly during its 2021 UK City of Culture year) - so when some disused spaces came on my radar above the Litten Tree Pub in town I took a closer look..

2

earlsdon CARNEGIE COMMUNITY LIBRARY’ PROJECT (2019/2020)

A chance meeting with ECCL head trustee Julie Rubidge - (as soon as she said ‘we want to be more for the community than just a library..’ i knew we were on the same wavelength) in April’19 led to AWD RESTORATIONS providing a detailed proposal for a major refurbishment of the building - with the goal of reaching out and engaging with a much wider audience c/o a major re-imagination of the space to include the creation of a new ‘Edwardian styled’ (100 capacity) community events space, plus a new public facing reception area.

The project (with financial assistance from Coventry Council, who provided ECCL with £20,000 transitional funding to cover improvements) began in March ‘20 with myself volunteering 8 man weeks of labour f.o.c - plus design & materials sourcing expertise so as to deliver a package of new features as follows:-

  • 13 x new internet cafe style pc workstation positions

  • large 180cm projection screen and HD projection facility linked into a PA system

  • new front facing reception area

  • re-designed library shelving in adult & childrens library areas

  • major re-purposing, restoration and re-decoration of reference library to create edwardian styled ‘reading room’ & events space including a william morris wallpaper frieze, chesterfield sofas, dado detailing and several signiture period antiques.

  • new gallery room with hd media display

  • 3 x large (8m2) automated solar powered overhead rooflight blackout blinds, and 19 x sprung roller blinds - covering all windows so as to facilitate daylight hours film screenings

  • 4 x large (edwardian styled) mobile bookshelves for reference library (re-purposed wall shelving)

  • restoration of all exterior windows and front entrance doors

  • making up of 1500 capacity wall shelf holding facility in store room for donated books

Main phase of the project completed on time/budget by 21/5 - however with the library then affected by lockdown I volunteered 3 months of extra time, working on my own to

AWD is also assisting with establishment of a forthcoming Events Programme - and it is envisaged that the Library will be a key community venue hosting a wide variety of activities during 2021 City of Culture year.

2

‘RUDEBOY IN COVENTRY’ FILM, MUSIC & FASHION EVENT (24.07.2019)

AWD conceived, managed and marketed this event, held at West Indian Community Centre on Spon Street - taking place as part of the Great Places/City of Culture sponsored summer of music.

The event comprised a screening of ‘Rudeboy - the Trojan Records Story’ (2018, Dir Nicolas Jack Davies), plus DJ’s, talks, and a daytime programme devoted to the showcasing of a segment of the 2014 ‘Return of the Rudeboy’ Fashion exhibition staged at Somerset House, London, including q&a with the exhibition’s curators Dean Chalkley + Harris Elliot.

We had 163 attendees (£4 per person paid ticketing via Eventbrite) at the evening event plus approx 50 during the day - and great follow on coverage on social media/BBC CWR - raising the profile of Coventry as a culture destination with its own rich music heritage (the Holyhead Basement features in the film, with a contribution from Neville Staple).

3

PRIORY VISITOR CENTRE RE-LAUNCH PROJECT (SPRING 2019)

Following success of the CET, AWD had been approached by the team at the Priory for ideas to boost appeal (as visitor numbers were disappointing). Beginning Jan ‘19, 6 man weeks of time donated f.o.c - with a plan produced to re-imagine the space & visitor offering, & AWD additionally supporting with a refurbishment fund of £800.

Several key changes were made, including some essential maintenance and (quick) re-purposing of the visitor centre layout to create flexible areas suitable for hospitality & cultural events. AWD also facilitated some test events designed to show the possibilities of the space - these included a 70s themed dj music /film evening (we called this ‘Boogaloo’), Hogwarts themed afternoon children’s party, and hosting of Cov Uni Photography students half year degree show. Both evening events featured a pop-up bar, plus food - with over 120 people in attendance on each night.

The Priory team were however unable to support the new plan in full, and the visitor centre closed in April’19.

Short 2 min demo of 3D visual film commissioned by AWD for the Priory Visitor Centre (not made public).

4

IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR HOLYHEAD STUDIOS BASEMENT & GARDEN REFURB PROJECT (SUMMER ‘18)

Following an approach by Matthew Macauley (manager of ‘Classroom’ gallery at the Holyhead Studios) AWD donated 4 man weeks of time to bring the 150m2 derelict basements back in to use for Cultural events. The cellar areas formed the original kitchens of the 1880 Quakers Meeting House/school - and have more recent cultural significance for Coventry as this is where the Specials (or Coventry Automatics as they were then known) first practiced, and where they met Neville Staple (who used the space for his ‘sound’ Jah Baddis). Grafitti from the period still exists on the walls. An outside garden area accessed from the basement rear was also refurbished as part of the project.

The space has since played host to 20+ events - with perhaps over 1000 people having attended thus far.

It is hoped that the ‘Holyhead Basements’ will host an element of the 2021 City of Culture 2 Tone event programme presently in planning phase c/o The Herbert.

5

IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE ‘CET POPUP’ PROJECT (2017/18)

The ‘CET’ (Coventry Evening Telegraph) popup project was an arts/heritage takeover of the 5000m2 local newspaper offices and printworks, on Corporation Street in Coventry City Centre.

The site had been purchased in early 2017 by Complex Development Projects with the view of re-development into a 1950’s themed Boutique hotel - however this work was not scheduled to begin until 2019. Rather than have the buildings remain empty, the AWD team worked with the developer to progressively open up the most interesting areas so that the public could get to explore.

The Historic Coventry Trust organised a donation of £2000 from Historic England to provide funds for minor improvements and exhibition artwork featuring more of Coventry’s post war architecture - and ‘CET POPUP’ opened on 25th May 2017 - managed by Alan Denyer (AWD RESTORATIONS - 1000 hours time donated f.o.c), with the help of the URBAN Cafe team who were responsible for day to day operation.

We recorded almost 25,000 visitors through the doors in just over 12 months, before finally closing in June’18 - a monumental success given the first 3 months were limited to Saturday afternoons only (thereafter Mon to Sat, 12-4).

A 1.5km ‘self-guided tour’ format was chosen to allow visitors to explore the site at their own pace - with information boards, artefacts, projected slideshows and films arranged throughout the facility, telling the story of the newspaper offices and printing facility that first opened in 1959.

Additionally, local artists and history groups were encouraged to provide exhibits for the public to enjoy as they wandered around - and this theme continued throughout the year with major public exhibitions held regularly with contributions from both local individials and larger arts/heritage organisations (eg. Coventry Biennial of Contemporary Art, Coventry University MA show, Coventry College photgraphy YRS 1/2/3, Birmingham City University MA show, Hereward College photo exhibition, Cov Uni dramatic arts takeover, Bluecoats School Art show, Belgrade Theatre, Cov Pride, Shopfront Theatre, Talking Birds, Coventry Artspace, The Coventry Society).

A reception cafe (URBAN) was established on site, with regular public events (83 in total, over 600 participating artists/practitioners) held in the atmospheric ‘press hall’, boardroom and reception spaces - including local orchestra’s, choirs, visual artists, musicians, dj’s, dancers and community workshops - we even hosted a ‘Coventry Special’ live edition of the Jeremy Vine show! (8th Nov 2017).

Looking back now, it’s clear that this project made a huge difference to the city - giving a platform to many under-represented communities and promoting grassroots culture activity. Older visitors became aware of younger students ‘doing interesting things for them’ in the space and became more and more inquisitive - asking questions and sharing stories. Younger visitors (and culture practitioners) became interested in the history of the building - it’s use, it’s architecture, the people who worked there, the role of a local newspaper, the technology changes and impact of this on society - and by association - began asking questions, talking to older visitors and being inquisitive about other aspects of Coventrys history.

I saw similar examples of cross generational empathy-building on a visit to Hull, at the end of their City of Culture year (2017) - folks who (previously) didn’t think culture was ‘for them’ visiting galleries and museums because ‘we know they’ll be interesting people to talk to’.

Set up right, it’s these ‘connections’ our culture assets can gift to people - and why I enjoy facilitating new opportunities for these interactions.