Monkton Arts

Thank you for reading our Go Fund Me page.

We would like to take this opportunity to give our heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped us meet our initial target and see us through the worst of the flood recovery and into the new year.

We have made the decision to extend this appeal as we go forward to a transition period, which will inevitably not be a quick process, and to see us through the difficult winter months.

As we have said, and many of you know, we transformed a derelict building and have a fully repairing lease which after nearly 5 years is needing ongoing repairs and maintenance, made worse with the flooding and therefore ongoing damp. The energy bills on dehumidifying the building for months, and heating the building with prices of wood going up as well as the redecorating needed for the galleries and toilets are pushing us to have to extend our appeal.

Please give what you can or share the appeal to keep us here serving the community and growing the culture of Ryde.

For More Background Reading From The Initial Appeal, See More Below:

You will all know that Monkton Arts was badly flooded on Wednesday, 25th October 2023 and we were closed for the rest of the week. With a lot of hard work and support from the community, we mounted a massive clean-up operation and were able to re-open on the Friday evening of the same week for the planned 1920 music event.

We've thought long and hard over the last few weeks. Our base in East Street has been flooded five times and the building needs constant attention to remain dry and heated and safe. We would also like to add that we have a full maintenance lease after taking it on as a derelict building over 4 years ago, and we are unable to get any insurance for flooding because of its location, so each time has been a hit but this time was one too hard. We have ambitions to do much more for the community. We are committed to helping the community in Ryde, creating cultural assets, enhancing people's quality of life and promoting health and wellbeing. We have loads of ideas about new music events and festivals,, exhibitions, projects and the opening of Appley Tower under our management!

For these reasons we have to survive, which is why we ask for your support at this time to give whatever you can manage, every little helps. This money will go towards the loss of earnings while we were closed, loss of stock and art work lost as well as equipment and basic repairs and to see us over the Christmas period and into the new year.

With our grateful thanks and appreciation,

Jenna and Dawn