Shaw telephone box transformed into community gallery

A telephone box in Shaw has been transformed into a community gallery space after a small opening ceremony.

The box is now displaying artwork by local group the Art Club, showcasing a mixture of paintings from landscapes to flowers. The space was officially opened on Thursday 11th December by vice chair of Melksham Without Parish Council, Cllr David Pafford.

The project is the idea of the Community Action Whitley and Shaw group. Giving a speech at the opening, chair Peter Richardson said the idea started last year and that it has been ‘really nice’ to see the project turn into reality in just under a year.

Peter said, “Thank you to Melksham Without Parish Council, which gave us a generous grant to allow us to do the work; thank you to Mike Booth. Mike did all the fantastic artwork, organised the wrapping, procured and installed the frames, then liaised with the Art Club for the first exhibition.

“Thank you to the Art Club. Thank you for being our first exhibitor; the pictures look lovely.”

Further exhibitions are planned for the space. Peter said, “We have the Garden Club that has a selection of local gardens over the seasons, which is lovely, a local artist who lives just around the corner who is very interested in displaying as well. Finally, we are in discussion with the school about running some sort of competition and perhaps exhibiting the winners here.”

Congratulating all involved in the project, Cllr Pafford said, “Well done, everybody. I hope this is a success.”

Any artists, photographers, poets, collectors or historians interested in exhibiting can contact whitley.and.shaw@gmail.com

There is no cost and original items can be scanned or photographed and printed to fit the frames.