A NEW art centre and cafe run by social enterprise NOW Group has opened in Crawfordsburn, helping secure jobs and opportunities for people with learning difficulties.
Loaf Pottery, where five jobs have been created (including two for people with learning difficulties), will hold art classes, offer space to community groups and operate a cafe.
The facility on the site of the former Pinewood Pottery will see artists work alongside people with disabilities to develop skills that will increase their employability. Local artists will also be able to use the space to promote their products and support economic development in the coastal area.
NOW Group secured funding from Ards & North Down Borough Council, Ulster Garden Villages, the Coastal Communities Fund and George Best Belfast City Airport to renovate the space after being contacted by residents who were keen to see the pottery restored and open to the community again.
The award-winning NOW social enterprise has been operating in greater Belfast for 18 years but has now expanded its service across the north, working in six council areas to date.
NOW Group chief executive Maeve Monaghan said: “The pottery has been in the pipeline for a number of years and it would have been easy to let it pass but the passion and determination of the local residents have supported us to make this happen.
"Using a model that has worked for us elsewhere, we have taken a disused building and created a vibrant, safe space for our participants to engage with their community and develop new skills and experiences.
"This is our first focus on the arts and we think we’ve hit on the perfect location as the area begins to invest in its tourism and arts sector."
