Village of Staithes Celebration of Art

Date : 2002-10-12 Publication : Evening Gazettel

A fishing village's church is set to take on a dual role as a centre for artists and craftworkers.
The idea is on the drawing board for St Peter's Church in Staithes near Whitby as part of a £1.8m government funding Single Regeneration Budget award to revive the beauty spot's economy.

Rector the Rev Jonathan Cooper said: "We are in the early stages of the scheme but the church is being very positive and we are working with the SRB group. We would have to screen off the altar when the church is being used by the artists."

The group says more space is needed in Staithes for the growing number of artists and craftworkers. "It has proved a very popular option following a survey we carried out among residents," said project officer Carl Duck.The village was famous for its Staithes Group of Artists headed by Dame Laura Knight in the 1930s when professional artists made it their home and went on to become some of the best known names in the British art world.

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