Plans for new music venue in Chippenham launched at event

Local company Rag and Bone Arts hopes to transform a disused commercial garage at 7 Union Road, in Chippenham, into a vibrant performance and learning space for young people.

The conversion could see the unit serve as a venue for music gigs, theatre, comedy, and dance.

Rag and Bone Arts and Riverbank Studios would also run the building as an educational centre for art, drama, and dance, something they say is not currently available in Chippenham.

The inside of the Union Road venue now (Image: Rag and Bone Arts)A Crowdfunder has been launched for the venture, with the community interest company hoping to secure funding to rent the venue from landlords Artel31, who are co-funding the conversion and are also located on Union Road.

Rag and Bone Arts director Laura Graham-May said: “We’d like it to be an event, performance and gig space, it would be purpose-built and multi-purpose.

“How much work we can do will depend on how much we raise, we want to raise as much as possible and have set the total target at £100,000 but that includes grant funding and sponsorship.

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“Our stage one target is £50,000 and we think we can do our part for that, if we get more it means we can possibly do other things to it down the line.”

A sketch of what the venue could look like (Image: Rag and Bone Arts)The Crowdfunder was launched with an event at the unit on October 6, which was attended by local councillors and performers such as Luke Gittins, who performed with Ed Sheeran earlier this year.

Money will need to be raised to secure a ten-year lease on the site, which sits next to popular local business Cousin Norman’s.

Rag and Bone Arts hopes to be able to sign the lease and take control of the future of the space “as soon as possible.”

Mrs Graham-May believes the new arts centre would be an important addition to the town for younger residents.

The venue on Union Road (Image: Newsquest)She added: “It’s going to change things completely, the area where we want to do it is already a really exciting and vibrant place to be in.

“This space could make a huge difference and everybody would benefit from it being there because you could go to performances you would normally have to travel to Bath or Bristol for.

“It will bring people to the area and benefit the whole community, Chippenham has got lots going on but this is a focal point for arts and culture which is slightly lacking.”