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The
Fairground Craft and Design Centre, previously run by
Penton Grafton Parish Council, first opened its doors
in Weyhill, Hampshire in October 2003. Open to
the public, it is now a Community Interest
Company, run by volunteers and tenants for the benefit
of the community.
Community
Interest Companies (CICs) are limited companies, with
special additional features, created for the use of
people who want to conduct a business or other
activity for community benefit and not purely for
private advantage. There are less than 2000 CICs and
only a few in Hampshire. The Fairground CIC is the
first in the local area.
A
vibrant community, it offers economic studio and
retail space for artists and makers, as well as a
delightfully light and airy gallery, a restaurant and
a large community hall, all within the embrace of
historic chalk walls.
The
Gallery mixes an exciting and varied programme of exhibitions,
with the offer of rental space to individual artists and
also to groups for their own exhibitions. The
combination of those exhibitions plus the range of
quality work to be found in the studios, gives a real
opportunity for public enjoyment and purchase of a huge
variety of highly creative and very individual work.
Still a
very young organisation, the Craft Centre now aims to
increase involvement in community projects, interacting
with all age groups and backgrounds, promoting the
practice and appreciation of the arts in general. In
2008 The Fairground CIC revived the Michaelmas
Fair, which was once known as the 'greatest fair in the
Kingdom' with over 70,000 sheep, cheese, hops and a
pleasure fair. The second fair will be held on
September 26th & 27th 2009, and will be a showpiece
for traditional country crafts and will also celebrate
Weyhill's history and literary attachments. We will also
be raising funds for Hampshire & IOW Air Ambulance.
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