A Bury town centre theatre has transformed a former café into a new creative arts space.
In May, The Met will open its doors to a new creative concept when Two Crows Arts Studio will be moving into a fresh ground floor space.
Based in the space which formerly housed Automatic café bar, the new venture will open up the building to local communities and creatives.
The artists will be building a multi-functional creative space that will eventually become home to six resident artists, providing a range of activities for the community to enjoy.
The Met will hold an official launch event on Thursday, May 2 from 5pm to 7pm.
Initially running for a pilot period of eight weeks, the intention is that the project will become a permanent fixture at The Met.
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As well as making and selling original hand-crafted work, the artists will deliver regular weekly workshops suitable for all ages and abilities.
CEO of The Met Victoria Robinson said: “The Met exists to provide development opportunities for artists and the new space is an extension of our work that makes Bury so unique.
“We’re proud to welcome Two Crows Studio into the building and their programme of events and workshops.
“We’re working closely with partners to ensure this is an exciting opportunity for thew whole of Bury and adds to the already brilliant cultural offer we have here.”
Residents can take part in activities including figure drawing, urban sketching, zine-making, collage and after school arts.
The space will also provide an important social hub where visitors can enjoy a cup of coffee, and maybe a slice of cake while they browse the fantastic art on display.
A team of talented artists are on board to deliver the exciting new scheme, including Alison Erika Forde, a visual artist/ illustrator practising in and around Greater Manchester for the past 14 years.
Alison will be joined by fellow artists, Lee Crocker and Bob Nutts Jr. Lee, who previously worked with Bury Art Museum.
He is also a firm believer that art is for everyone and for over 20 years he has shared this belief via workshops, exhibitions and events.
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Bob Nutts Jr is an illustrator, artist and producer concentrating on inclusivity in the arts, communication and subcultures in the creative industries.
All three are co-founders successful collectives Bury Collective and Gang of Five along with Alison and Bob Nutts Jr.
A spokesperson for the Two Crows Arts studio said: “It is extremely exciting to be creating a pop-up base for Two Crows Arts Studio with The Met, where we can channel all of our experience into creating a vibrant DIY art space, something we’ve been dreaming of for quite some time.
"We are grateful for the opportunity, this is only the beginning!”
You can find out more information about the Two Crows Art Studio, including events and classes, on The Met's website.
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