A thriving arts space in Somerset

ACEarts Warm Welcome Space in the small town of Somerton, Somerset, has a loyal band of regulars who visit its welcoming café and enjoy its free exhibitions.

‍

For one man, who visits with his carer, it really is the highlight of his week – to the point that, if he’s held up in traffic on the way to the space, he gets very upset that his time in the space has been limited.

‍

The space lead Nina Gronw-Lewis is an artist in her own right, as is Lydia, her colleague who works in the café and shop.

The space is run by a small team that includes Nina’s daughter, a woman who works three days a week and a new joiner who will pick up some of the admin tasks.

‍

The arts centre is open from Tuesdays to Saturdays, 11am to 5pm on Tuesdays and 10am to 5pm Wednesdays to Saturdays.

‍

It’s primarily a gallery for visiting exhibitions such as one of really detailed, high quality work from the Society of Graphic Fine Art when I visited in early May.

‍

Downstairs is a café serving tea, coffee and delicious cakes alongside a shop brimming with cards, presents and works of art including ceramics from local artists.

‍

The Warm Welcome Space takes the form of a weekly drop-in session on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings, where people can join in creative activities.

‍

ACEarts has been running for 10 years and for the past nine years its home has been the large, stone building right by Somerton’s Market Cross – in a building that dates from the 1600s.

‍

In the week before I visited, a group of eight students with special educational needs had visited with four of their teachers to admire the current fine art exhibition and respond to it. Just one of many examples of the way the space is used by its local community.

‍

With the gallery on the first floor, currently up a flight of stairs, it will soon be accessible to those in wheelchairs and with buggies thanks to a lift that is being installed, for which Nina raised private finance.

‍

ACEarts is a Champion Warm Welcome space and has benefited from a spaces support grant which has helped with running costs including refreshments, utility bills and resources such as paper and printing for posters.

‍

“It’s definitely made an impact on our community. People come from outside as well to join in. We're in Somerton town, so we've got the surrounding villages as our parish, so that's kind of our catchment area. So people do come in to enjoy the offer. And I think, I think, yes, I think there's a huge impact on individuals,” says Nina.

The space participated in the recent A Million Acts of Hope campaign with a Sip and Stitch event on 15 May, celebrating kindness and care with a morning of making and stitching.

‍

Somerton has a tradition of textiles dating back centuries, so ACEarts is participating in another textile project: the Coat of Hopes, an ever-growing patchwork coat which has been moved around Britain by pilgrims to highlight the climate emergency. It is visiting ACEarts on 4 July and people are invited to contribute to the patchwork.

‍

You can read more about the Coat of Hopes here.

‍

It’s a truly restful and welcoming place to be, and we’re so pleased ACEarts has registered with the Warm Welcome Campaign.

‍