Burslem School of Art, Stoke-on-Trent
2001, for Stoke City Council
Peter White was asked in the late 90’s
to develop a concept, redevelopment strategy and business plan for this
former prestigious school of art where famous designers such as Clarice
Cliff had studied. Sadly the Grade II* building had been vacated by this
time and was in a sad state. Idea was to create a centre for design led
small firms and for design based training. The plan involved handing the
building over to a Community Development Trust and leasing part it to
the local college of FE to deliver appropriate courses. The rental
income from this underpinned the operation in its early years.
The proposals were enthusiastically
accepted and Peter was asked to prepare the necessary funding
applications – which he did successfully – before then being asked to
project manage the scheme to practical completion – which he also did.
All the space let quickly and now
several years later, the building is seen as an important centre for
design in North Stoke, housing some key organisations and leading design
based businesses as well as promoting a series of temporary exhibitions,
design oriented events and summer schools.
It is also gratifying to note that the
centre manager stated on completion of the first five years of trading
that the actual out-turn figures (P&L) for the School of Art were within
a few hundred pounds of what Peter had predicted some 7 years
previously.
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