THE Vale in Mossley, Tameside is being revolutionised into a purpose-built arts centre.

Vale Mill at the top of Micklehurst Road, is soon to become the Carnival Centre of Excellence in the North and will hold live and internet-streamed music, cinema, theatre, and dance events.

The old mill is being refurbished, renovated and recreated to provide visual arts studios, a new theatre and live music space, artist accommodation,updated outdoor spaces and desk and studio space for local and visiting creatives.

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The venue will be able to host carnival practitioners from around the world, give the organisation’s own productions and performers a refreshed home and offer local people a fully accessible multi-purpose arts space.

The carnival arts organisation Global Grooves moved into part of the building in 2012 before opening a mixed-use studio for artists two years later.

In 2018 a capital refurbishment grant from Arts Council England to develop the Northern Carnival Centre of Excellence was awarded and construction work is now underway.

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The £1million raised by Global Grooves for the renovation will make The Vale the only high-quality arts centre of its kind in Tameside, and only the second dedicated centre to Carnival in the UK.

The first phase of works is set to be completed this summer with a year-round programme of live music, theatre, dance and cinema, to be announced once the venue has officially launched later this year.

Andy Stratford, Global Grooves capital project manager, said: “Tameside, as a borough, is traditionally under-represented in initiatives like this, yet the potential impact we can make here, in terms of accessibility and reaching artists, audiences and young people, is enormous. This investment will directly benefit local people and audiences from further afield for years to come.”

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Angela Chappell, relationship manager, Arts Council England, added: “The development of The Vale is of national significance to the carnival arts sector as this will be one of few specialist creation spaces for carnival arts in the UK and the largest in the North, which we hope will provide new opportunities for innovative work and, in particular, the next generation of carnival arts leaders and creators.”

“This capital development is also a unique and very exciting new facility for Mossley and Tameside which will provide opportunities for local artists and creatives, as well as being home to workshops and activity that local people can take part in or experience as audience members which is particularly important as there is currently low engagement in arts in the borough.”

A project that will see participants installing equipment and delivering their own work in the venue has also been announced. "Vale Sounds", the Vale-based Bangdrum community project, is aimed at young creatives aged 16-21 years old. More information is available at: vale-music.co.uk. The deadline for applications is February 1.

To have your say in how the venue is used within the community, you can join the Vale Stakeholders group at: https://www.the-vale.co.uk/the-vale-stakeholder-group/