For the first time since the “Pav” closed in 2008, the Grand Pavilion Matlock Bath is to re-open, this time as an arts venue. From the 2nd to the 5th of June the Pavilion will be the largest venue in the county for the Derbyshire Open Arts exhibition, featuring 11 artists, as well as music, dance and audio-visual displays.
The Pav closed as a nightclub in 2008 and up until now the “lights have been out” at the Grand Pavilion, with the future of this key local landmark in doubt. However, the local charity The Grand Pavilion Ltd put forward a persuasive business case resulting in Derbyshire Dales District Council awarding them a three year lease. The charity is currently applying for grants to fully renovate and modernise the Grand Pavilion as a 400 seat theatre, arts and community venue. Part of the plan also includes creating a Heritage Centre for Matlock Bath.
This first event, Derbyshire Open Arts, is a countywide project to display contemporary arts in unusual spaces all over Derbyshire, from cathedrals to village halls, free of charge to visitors. The Grand Pavilion has been chosen as a venue and has the greatest number of artists under one roof, in all of Derbyshire. As it is Jubilee weekend, the Pavilion will also be providing music, dance, poetry, storytelling and video to visitors, along with a display about the renovation, refreshments and a bar.
Exhibition organiser, Mark Crowfoot, said; “this is a tremendous showpiece for what the Grand Pavilion can do. We will offer visitors a whole range of arts, that you can look at, hear and watch. I hope that our venue will become the flagship for Derbyshire Open Arts in the future.”
An enormous amount of work has been done to get the Grand Pavilion ready for this event. Grand Pavilion Building Officer, Dave Mowle, said; “this has been a tremendous commitment from people who really want to reopen the Pavilion and restore the venue to its central position in the Matlock area. Over 500 hours of time has been devoted to this by over 50 volunteers. We have done all the necessary work without having to spend any money on skips. All the surplus materials that we have taken from the building have been sold for scrap. We have actually made a profit from recycling old iron and wood!”
Grand Pavilion Ltd Chairman, Gregor Macgregor, said; “When the proposal to host Derbyshire Open Arts was first made I had some doubts as to whether we could pull it off. Now with just a few days to go before the event, we have shown what hard work and good will can do. Thanks again to all those who have given time. We now have a fantastic venue that is attracting attention from all over the Region – look out for us in East Midlands Today!”
Andie Brazewell, the Chairman of the Friends Group supporting the renovation of the Grand Pavilion said, “We are delighted to throw open the doors to the public for this amazing event over the Jubilee weekend, which will be completely free for everyone to enjoy!”
The Grand Pavilion Programme: https://www.dropbox.com/s/h4en1tq4rrzzvja/Programme.pdf
Derbyshire Open Arts website: http://www.derbyshireopenarts.co.uk/about
Gregor
N.Gregor Macgregor
Chairman, The Grand Pavilion Ltd
See our Progress: www.savethepavilion.co.uk &
Support out vision: www.thegrandpavilion.co.uk
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