by Erica Roffe (editor of The Bedford Clanger)
Castle Lane has a very special place in my heart. It’s home to the newly refurbished Higgins museum and gallery, it has some great restaurants, it’s hosted the superbly quirky cycle cinema and there are some truly unique shops in this corner of Bedford including Pensieri, Design Twenty and Lady K’s boutique.
In fact, it’s hard to remember the time when the units were empty, the museum was closed and most of Bedford had forgotten the street existed.
Back in 2011, when seven of the properties were vacant, We Are Bedford ran a number of empty shops projects in Castle Lane.
These events formed the blueprint of Bedford’s successful bid to become a Portas Pilot town and spawned other similar projects. They were a catalyst for a positive change in attitudes towards the town and signalled a more collaborative approach to working.
I should declare an interest here, as one half of We Are Bedford was me. The other half was Kayte Judge.
Therefore, it is beautifully apposite that the final unit to be let on Castle Lane is a collaboration that Kayte is involved in: Animal Studios. And one of the other ‘Animals’ is illustrator David Litchfield. Animal Studios is on the site of We Are Bedford’s pop up gallery of David’s ‘A Drawing A Day’ project that took place in the summer of 2011, so it feels like the circle is now complete.
Animal Studios Ltd is many things. One half of the building is Animal Gallery which will regularly exhibit contemporary art, design and illustration work created by some of the best creative artists from around the world. The other side of the building is a vibrant co-working studio space currently home to freelance illustrators, graphic designers, architects and creative individuals working in arts education and events management. Animal studios is also used as a client meeting facility, an area to run workshops, film-screenings, pop-up activities and a host of other events.
The very ethos of Animal Studios is reflected in Mary Portas’ Review of the High Street. She suggested that to survive, traditional shop units must adapt and offer work and community space. It is therefore appropriate that Animal Studios Ltd was awarded start-up funding by the Bedford Portas Town Team.
So, I urge you to visit Animal Studios and while you’re on Castle Lane, pop into the many other shops, cafes, restaurants, bars and businesses that make up the cultural quarter of Bedford. They may be off the beaten track, but they are what makes Bedford unique and that’s why I love them.
For opening times and information about current exhibitions please visit: animalstudios.tumblr.com/whatson
