New Brewery Arts, a Cirencester-based charitable arts hub housing artist studios, arts and crafts workshops, a shop and cafe, is facing an uncertain future as it appeals to the town and its surrounding community to pledge their support to help it stay open.
Each year, New Brewery Arts welcomes over 100,000 visitors and was recently voted one of the top five cultural organisations in the country.
But due to recent funding cuts, it now fears it may have to close within the next six months.
Despite a profitable shop, cafe, thriving artist studios and a hugely popular programme of workshops and courses, the charity is running at a deficit.
Beth Alden, CEO of New Brewery Arts, said: 'We can so nearly make it work, with the business able to cover 95 per cent of overheads.
'Yet, we have seen some radical changes to our financial model over the last three years, with the cost of running a large historic building going through the roof and arts funding going through the floor across the sector.
'We are gearing up our plans to celebrate our 50th birthday in 2028 and it should be a time to celebrate the joy we know we bring to our town and community, but the sad truth is, we might not make it.
'We are calling on the people of Cirencester to help ‘craft our way out of a crisis.’'
To do this, the centre is increasing capacity on all courses and workshops, from pottery and stone carving to digital photography and social media skills, to help encourage more attendees and visitors through the door.
Beth continued: 'If thirty people or more book a workshop each month (that’s one person a day), we would move into the black.
'It is time for everyone who always wanted to learn a new craft or skill to just book! We are asking our community to stand with us so we can continue to be the place where creativity happens in Cirencester. This really is a case of use us or lose us!'
To view what's on, book a place on a workshop or a book a private staff party workshop for Christmas, visit New Brewery Arts website or call 01285 657181.
