Fabrication opens gallery and workshops in York city centre

Fabrication, a social enterprise previously located in Coney Street, has turned two vacant units in Feasegate into a gallery and artists’ workshop.

Focused on the ‘messy side of making’, the workshop is occupied by a variety of hands-on creatives from painters to jewellery makers – each of whom has a mini workshop ‘pod’ and a community space.

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There are 20 pods across the building with 18 of them occupied in six weeks – something which owner Dawn Wood says shows the need for a creative space in York city centre.

Work by Lincoln Lightfoot, one of the resident artists (Image: Alice Kavanagh)

There is also a gallery where artists are able to exhibit their work.

Speaking to The Press earlier this year, Dawn said: “Creative workspaces are needed but in York, they’re all clean creative – people think film work is all CGI but there’s still props, costumes, artwork done by paint, and artwork done by hand.

“All that messy side of making, you need somewhere to go and there’s less of that available in city centres. It’s incredibly important so when we had the opportunity, we had to do it.”

Some of the current work in Fabrication’s gallery (Image: Alice Kavanagh)

Since moving in, the artists have taken the time to renovate the space and ensure it’s accessible with new toilets and facilities installed – something that has brought them closer together.

Dawn explained that connectivity between people in the studio is an important part of the building and her interest lies in giving artists the chance to build their business and grow – through either selling their work in the Fabrication shop or just by working in a collaborative environment.

She said: “The aim of Fabrication is to stop social isolation amongst artists – many of our workers have medical conditions or are freelancers so they don’t have water cooler moments like you do in other professions.

“It’s about support and building self esteem amongst artists just as much as it is producing products to sell.”

The gallery space next door also provides space for exhibitions, a photo studio, and additional workshop space if necessary – something Dawn says she is willing to adapt based on the needs of local artists.

Different artists and creatives have spaces in the Fabrication workshops (Image: Alice Kavanagh)

She added: “Whatever they’re used for is whatever we’re asked – I can easily change things.”

The Fabrication workshops and gallery space are in Feasegate with the gallery open to visitors on a regular basis.