Greenham Trust purchased the Old Carnegie Library on Cheap Street, Newbury, and has leased it to The Corn Exchange as a performing arts space. Built in 1905, the library had stood empty for several years after the previous occupant, Prezzo Pizza, closed its doors. We have spent a significant amount of money renovating the building, including new windows, a refurbished roof, guttering, and other improvements. The building is now watertight and ready for the next phase of its life.
The Corn Exchange has already raised 60% of their fundraising target and now need your help to reach their goal to redevelop the Old Library.
Here is where you come in…
The Corn Exchange and Greenham Trust are now collaborating to help fundraise to fit out the inside of the building. When complete, the transformed Old Library will:
- Provide access to an unused Newbury heritage building, returning it to the community
- Become a hub for creative wellbeing activity in Newbury town centre
- a permanent home for the programmes of work currently delivered at the Learning Centre
- Provide dedicated engagement spaces and a studio
theatre - Be a space to celebrate our learning programmes
alongside a professional contemporary performance
programme, raising the aspirations and ambitions of
local people of all ages.
Rob Daniels, Head of Grants at Greenham Trust said “Having made a significant investment in getting this wonderful community building back from the brink, we are really pleased to partner with the Corn Exchange to realise the next phase of this exciting project. This public appeal has significant echos of how the library was first built at the beginning of the last century, with public giving, donations and grants.”
Jessica Jhundoo-Evans, Director of Corn Exchange Newbury & 101 Outdoor Arts, comments ‘We are asking you and everyone we know to help us raise the money to transform the Old Library into a new community space and a permanent home for our creative participation activity. This area of our work provides a wide range of inclusive opportunities with specific projects for young people, schools, under-5s and new parents, over-55s, and a thriving youth theatre. It provides a lifeline to many local people and is more vital now than ever before: reducing social isolation and loneliness within our community; improving mental health locally; and supporting young people in building confidence and self-esteem.
The Old Library is the perfect new space and we are asking for your support to help open up this historic, much-loved Newbury building for our community. With dedicated engagement spaces, a small café/bar and a place to gather and connect with others, the possibilities for our communities are really exciting.’
Donate via the Good Exchange
Visit The Old Library Project on The Corn Exchange Website