AN OLD boot factory in East Oxford has kick-started a new life as the area’s latest “pop-up” arts centre.

Events promoter Ian Nolan is behind the project and now wants residents to come forward with ideas for gigs, gatherings and shows.

Originally the venture was only allowed to occupy the building in St Mary’s Road until April – but the landlords have been so pleased with what has been done, the space is now available until September.

Mr Nolan, who runs Ian Nolan Events, said: “We had a few events at the end of last year including arts nights, a slam poetry night with Hammer and Tongue and that kind of stuff.

“We want something where you come to see an artist or a band, or someone on a piano – we want to do more.”

Last year Mr Nolan was behind the transformation of a former bookbinders in Green Street into a temporary arts space.

The pop-up community centre remained while the site awaited redevelopment.

When the short-term lease in Green Street ended, he scouted around for another location.

He said most of the community centres and halls had regular bookings for activities every week, which made it difficult to stage one-off activities, whereas he hoped the Old Boot Factory could offer more flexibility for everything from mother and toddler sing and sign groups to birthday parties and art installations.

He said: “You can only repaint a hall so many times.

“We really like the idea of taking these premises that are empty and throwing together a whole cobble of the rich culture that is around.

“By doing it in short bursts in different places, we keep the enthusiasm going.”

For some activities, there will be a charge to use the facilities to cover the cost of insurance and overheads.

Others will be free, dependent on the nature of the event.

Mr Nolan said: “We want to hear from anyone who has got something to offer, particularly where people feel it’s not currently offered elsewhere.

“We also want to work with people to help them produce different shows.”

Last year culture minister and Wantage MP Ed Vaizey visited the Old Bookbinders project , saying he wanted to look at the possibility of relaxing rules and regulations to allow more organisations to open up derelict or empty buildings for arts use on a short-term basis.

Mr Nolan said: “The Old Boot Factory had been squatted in for about 18 months before we moved in.

“We found needles, they had fires in there and there were beer cans everywhere.

“Rather than that happening and bringing down the area, we have people in there that are acting as landlords and it benefits everyone.”

* Do you know the history of the OCS Boot Repairing Department?

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