News / Jacob's Wells Baths
Miriam Margolyes lends support to threatened former dance centre
Miriam Margolyes called the arts sector “the soul of a nation” as she lent her support to a threatened former dance centre in Bristol.
“I’m speaking out in support of Jacob’s Wells Baths which are a wonderful facility and for 30 years it’s been the only place in Bristol dedicated to the dance,” the award-winning actress and patron of Trinity Bristol said.
Originally a public bath house for the poor, the 19th century building was most recently used a community-managed dance studio for 35 years until its closure in 2016.
is needed now More than ever
Despite two bidders in the running to take it over, Bristol City Council members recently rubber-stamped plans to sell off the property earlier – before the community asset transfer process was complete.
Community arts organisation Trinity and Bristol Historic Buildings both had plans to revive Jacob’s Wells Baths and transform it into a community arts hub.
Now Margolyes is asking the public to rally round Jacob’s Wells Baths so it can be kept as a arts community space because “it’s right that it should survive”.
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“Art centre are closing all over the closing all over the country,” Margolyes said.
“It’s something I bitterly regret because I think that the arts are the soul of a nation and I think in a difficult world, people need a place where they can go and learn whatever they want to learn and talk to each other and have a cup of tea or just relax in a friendly space.
“I think it’s really important that the Bristol should have more of these spaces and that the arts can flourish and nourish us because that’s what they do.
“I believe it will make a huge difference, make a lot of people, children and older people, happy and it’s right that it should survive.
“So please join me and support Jacob’s Wells Baths.”
The former baths need plenty of love in order to operate as a community venue – photo: Betty Woolerton
Deputy mayor and Labour councillor for Hillfields Craig Cheney said it cost the council tens of thousands of pounds a month to maintain the former Victorian baths and that “we just don’t have that money”.
He said the CAT process was “still being worked through”, following the deadline of June 30, for final submissions from community arts organisation Trinity and Bristol Historic Buildings.
Main photo: Trinity Bristol
Read next:
- Anger as council put historic Jacob’s Wells Baths up for sale
- Vision to turn former pool into ‘jewel of Cliftonwood and Hotwells’
- Venue of the Month: Trinity Centre
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