Darlington Quaker Meeting Transforms Unused Schoolroom into Artistic Hub (Darlington, United Kingdom)

Darlington Quaker Meeting’s old school room, long left unused and unloved, has been revitalized into a vibrant artistic hub thanks to the vision of premises manager Helen Whittington. For years, the community had struggled with what to do with the space, which had fallen into disrepair after the school closed in the 1960s. Helen, a Quaker and resident Friend at the meeting house, saw an opportunity to transform the room into a creative space that could serve both the community and the Quaker mission.

Helen manages commercial properties for the Teesdale and Cleveland Area Meeting, including the Quaker Business Centre, a gallery and gift shop, and a hair salon. When one of the units became available in 2023, she proposed converting the school room into a community hub. The idea was to create a space that would benefit the community and enhance Quaker visibility without competing with the meeting house’s existing lettings.

The project gained momentum quickly. Local artists and makers, who lacked affordable gallery space, were eager to use the newly available space. Helen collaborated with Darlington Borough Council, which provided a grant for large display boards, and a team of community volunteers helped with redecoration. The school room, with its high ceiling and ample light, was ideally suited for artistic endeavors.

Within a short time, four artists moved in, each finding a home in the space. The area meeting also benefited from the extra income generated by the new hub. The school room is now a creative haven for Lucas Roy, Lisa Sopekan, Michelle Douglas, and Mina Bakhtiari. For Mina, the studio within the Friends Meeting House has become a place of personal and professional growth, where she has found the confidence to stand independently as an artist and gain recognition in Darlington.

Source: Read the original report