A BANK is celebrating after seeing a large chunk of its cash investment in the Wakefield Art House come to fruition.
The Leeds branch of Allied Irish Bank (GB) made a deposit of around £500,000 towards the project, which has seen a unique, accessible artists’ studio complex open in the city this week.
The Art House was established in 1994 to create equal opportu
nities for disabled and non-disabled artists, allowing them access to work, training and exhibition opportunities. The new centre is the culmination of this work.
Pat McGarry, senior manager of corporate business at Allied Irish Bank (GB) in Leeds, said: “We’re delighted to have been able to provide the funding for such a worthwhile cause. It is a facility where artists from both the local area and from other parts of the country can come together and work together to produce their art.”
The new centre has a dedicated technician and a three-bedroom flat, which provides accommodation to working artists from around the UK and abroad.
The Art House director Liz Whitehouse said: “For some time we’ve been trying to build a new arts centre which provides excellent accessibility and unrivalled facilities for all artists, whether disabled or not. While a number of organisations had approved our funding applications, this money was paid in instalments rather than up front.
“So, we turned to our bank for the additional funds we needed and they, along with others, said they couldn’t help. Allied Irish Bank was the only bank to step forward and they were even prepared to lend more than we originally requested.”
The full article contains 275 words and appears in Wakefield Express City newspaper.
