Celebrations will be taking place this weekend as a new arts, culture and heritage venue for Dorset opens its doors to the public. Based in Weymouth, the newly named Old Town Hall & Crabchurch Room are two halls at the start of redevelopment featured in one of the town’s oldest buildings. The opening event will be held on Sunday 13th September from 11am to 6pm to celebrate the potential of the building for the area and to welcome artists from all genres to come along and support the success of this inspiring new venture.
Headlining the event is fine artist and sculptor, David Arnold, who will be holding an ongoing exhibition in the Old Town Hall’s Crabchurch Room from the 13th-16th September, 10am-5pm. David’s style is eclectic with many of his paintings depicting a magic realism and the creation of an idealized world in glowing colours. David’s work features in collections around the world and management at the Old Town Hall were delighted when David commissioned a series of “emotional warfare” oil paintings especially for the opening of the project.
David comments, “The paintings show the emotional side of being involved in warfare. As these are not in my usual style of working, I think of them as a separate entity from my exhibition portfolio. I was overwhelmed with the enthusiasm from voluntary supporters of the project and wanted to contribute to the venture as everyone is so generous with their time and energy. The warfare paintings will be displayed in the heritage exhibit in the Old Town Hall and my exhibition will be held in the downstairs Crabchurch Room.“
The upper hall on the first floor will retain the Old Town Hall name and will host a state-of-the-art heritage centre focusing on the battle of Weymouth during the English Civil War in 1645. The importance of the battle is not broadly recognised but it was effective in stopping the British Isles from being colonised by the French and part of the battle took place inside the Old Town Hall itself which inspired the “emotional warfare” series from David Arnold.
The hall on the ground floor will adopt a new identity as a centre for arts and culture. The hall has been named ‘The Crabchurch Room’, in keeping with the heritage of the building. The word Crabchurch was used as a secret code by Royalist troops so that friend would not slaughter friend in the confusion of a night attack.
Martin Hedley, Operational Director for the Old Town Hall and Crabchurch Room, comments, “We are delighted with the positive feedback we have received so far from the arts community regarding what we are trying to achieve and how best to develop the Crabchurch Room gallery. We have a big journey ahead of us in terms of restoring the property but wanted to be transparent from the outset and engage with the arts community immediately, so they can be part of the journey and can feel involved in its development. One of our consultants referred to the project as ‘a triumph of the human spirit’ and it really describes how the project is bringing so many people together from all creative walks of life. I particularly want to thank all members of the CCP, Chapelhay Community Partnership, for all their commitment in getting the project off the ground.”
Martin represented the Old Town Hall project for a BBC initiative, which was selected for filming and projection onto the roof of Salisbury Cathedral. The Chapelhay Gardens also form part of the revived Old Town Hall project and will be developed once a topographical survey has been completed. The Gardens aim to host performing arts events, living history, theatre groups and culinary workshops using produce grown in the gardens. An official launch will take place in 18 months time, when the arts and heritage halls are fully restored.
For more information about how to get involved in the project’s development or to hold an exhibition or host a performance, please contact Martin Hedley on 01305 770608 or by email at [email protected]
About the Old Town Hall and Crabchurch Room
The Chapelhay Community Partnership (CCP) developed a proposal for a new arts, culture and heritage venue in Weymouth, Dorset. The CCP now holds the lease for the Old Town Hall, a 16th century building set back from Weymouth’s quayside and plans are underway to refurbish the two halls for formal launch in 18 months time.
The upper hall on the first floor will retain the Old Town Hall name and will host a state of the art heritage centre focusing on the siege and battle of Weymouth during the English Civil War in 1645. Local Historians and authors, Mark Vine and Debby Rose, have been instrumental in the development of the heritage centre.
Image: Charge – a painting from David Arnold’s Emotional Warfare collection
