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Appeal for people in Leeds to get crafty to help Fabrication

By Lina Arshad

A crafts social enterprise in Leeds is opening its new workshop up at a special event to attract funding and encourage artists to work there.

Fabrication Crafts, which provides supplies, classes and advice, is opening the space on Edward Street in Leeds city centre on Thursday.

CEO Dawn Wood hopes the evening will provide a platform to introduce her future plans to visitors and to allow people to register their interest in renting space.

Dawn Wood, of Fabrication Crafts

Mrs Wood said: “We had a lot of people interested in the fact we have a new space and so this seemed like a good opportunity to bring them here to come and get excited about it like we are.

“Hopefully people will see what’s going on and why we actually do need some help.”

The previous premises, behind Hills on Crown Street, were deemed unfit for use after a large fire at the furniture store last November.

The new site requires significant work before the official opening day in February. It is three-tiered with plans to host different arts and crafts specialism, such as historical clothes making and jewellery-making, on different floors.

A Crowdfunder page has also been set up, which currently has raised £170 of the £10,000 target.

Mrs Wood acknowledged Fabrication needed to do a lot more to reach its target.

Having not been able to run any classes for the last year, Fabrication hopes to reinstate a range of these by March, with a major emphasis on the growth of space for jewellery-making sessions.

Louisa Caplan, 21, textile design and design management student, said: “This is a really important local service especially for textiles students like me because there is such a lack of space in student houses for practical work so it would be helpful to be able to rent a space fully.

“I’d definitely be interested in using it when I’m back for Easter.”

The owners have also enlisted the help of young volunteers from The Works Skatepark, a charity which works closely with schools and youth groups.

To donate to the Crowdfunder page visit: http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/help-us-set-up-the-new-fabrication-craft-workshop. The open event will be on Thursday, December 15 from 5-7pm.

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