A disused station building on the East Suffolk rail line is set for an exciting future thanks to a project that will bring benefits for all ages, plus train users and visitors to the area.
The dilapidated property next to the platform at Saxmundham is set to be transformed into The Art Station – featuring a waiting area for passengers, contemporary art exhibition programme promoting high quality art and artists, and an art education programme.
There will also be a garden café, and volunteering and training opportunities for under-represented groups.
Organisers of the project have agreed a lease with Greater Anglia and are aiming to raise up to £1.5million for the work to breath new life into the station.
Use of the building will start almost immediately with the project launched on Friday, June 9, with an engaging virtual reality installation by award winning artist Emily Godden, reimagining the waiting room experience.
It will be located in the station waiting room and will coincide with the Aldeburgh Festival weekends, June 9 to June 25.
Local artist and project lead Clare Palmier has championed the project from the start and said it will roll-out new experiences over the next two years, offering the 3,000 weekly station users and community, a contemporary art experience and an all ages art education programme.
She said: “We’re looking forward to opening up the building as soon as possible and working with the new franchise holder, Greater Anglia, to turn this exciting proposal into a reality. The first phase will be to get the building stripped out, cleaned up after years of disuse and to get a temporary café up and running and a waiting room for passengers.”
Described as an “ambitious entrepreneurial project”, the aim of the venture is to offer passengers and the local community new facilities, in a phased development, once funds are raised over the next two years.
The proposal has support from Greater Anglia, Saxmundham Town Council, Suffolk Coastal District Council, and Jayne Knight, Arts Development manager for Suffolk County Council, Arts Council England and SSE.
Paul Oxley, Greater Anglia stakeholder manager, said: “We’re delighted to support this exciting scheme, which will breathe new life into Saxmundham station.”
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