There has much been made of the Nottingham creative scene and in particular the growing scene in the Lace Market area and the much vaunted launch of the Creative Quarter during the past year. However while it is great to see hubs and creative groups popping up across Hockley there is a hub across the other side of the city centre that is not only getting overlooked but is also facing a much more serious threat to its future.
The Canning Circus Creative Hub is, almost certainly, the oldest and original Nottingham creative hub having been around for three decades, now though it faces being kicked out of the three buildings it occupy’s on Wollaton Street with the council asking the tenants to leave by mid 2014.
Unsurprisingly those that make up the hub, and they count music producers, interactive designers, music teachers and artists among them, decided not to go “quietly” as requested and a Facebook campaign was launched drawing attention to the plight – and for many attention to the existence of the hub itself.
As Michael Wynne, music producer, performer, teacher and more, who is leading the campaign tells us the campaign has outdone even their expectations. A petition launched reached the 1,000 signature target in just days and led to appearances on BBC radio and television as well as within the pages of the Nottingham Post. This led to a rather surprising outcome when Councillor Nick McDonald, from Nottingham City Council, insisted that if they couldn’t find a suitable new place for the hub then they wouldn’t make them move.
Social media campaigning, it seems, does work.
The campaign has also had further pluses with the hub gaining more attention than ever before and showcasing the individuals and businesses based at the site.
Sited over three buildings which all sit side by side, the Canning Circus Creative Hub sits amidst the ruins of much of Wollaton Road, an area, that like much of Canning Circus, is in dire need of renovation. For the council it seems that this renovation is to come in the form of flats – because that’s exactly what Nottingham City Centre needs more of.
What you soon learn as that the hub has played a vital, if under acknowledged, role in the rising creative scene in Nottingham. Jake Bugg, for example, was mentored by Michael Wynne back in 2009 and has since gone on to do pretty well for himself. Nottingham award winning illustrator, and Creative Quarter ambassador, Rikki Marr began his career at the hub, while the city’s first Top 40 hit since Paper Lace, the 2002 hit Misti Blu which featured Chaka Khan, was recorded at the studios. It was also the birthplace of Dealmaker Records and the Drop in the Ocean Festival.
Other tenants currently at the hub including the interactive design company Floating Point who have created interactive projects for the likes of Nottingham Contemporary and the BBC, professional guitar instructor Rob Greco is also based at the site as well as producer Da Sunlounge, who has produced records across the globe, spreading the Nottingham name.
Then there are the artists based at Wollaton Street Studios which makes up part of the hub, among those based their is Derek Hampson who has spent the better part of a decade adapting his studio to suit his needs perfectly.
That is part of the rub of it all, it isn’t just about heritage and sticking together, it is also about the right place, a lot of work and investment – and the hub receives no grants or funding – has gone into the premises to ensure they suit the needs of the relevant clients – something that can not be guaranteed at any new venue.
It’s clear to see that the hub has, and still does, play a huge part in the Nottingham creative scene, and it would be an unforgivable faux pass if the council were to force the hub from their home.
If you don’t know of the Canning Circus Creative Community then now is the perfect chance to rectify that, while finding out more about their campaign, head over to their fast growing Facebook page and show your support for the city’s original creative hub.
