A fundraising campaign is underway to help buy, preserve and revitalise Bangor’s old Ulster Bank building.
The bank is the most prominent building in the Co Down city centre and sits proudly at the top of Main Street.
Having been built in 1921 and designed by renowned local architect, James Hanna, it celebrated its 100th anniversary last year.
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Now Seacourt Print Workshop have big plans for the bank and want it to become a creative hub in the heart of Bangor, as a community space with amazing opportunities for young people, artists and all local residents.
With public support, they hope to buy the building and secure Seacourt’s long term future as pillar of the local community and play a key part in regenerating the centre of Bangor.
The artist printmaking studio is aiming to raise £20,000 through crowdfunding in order to get over the final hurdle in their bid to buy this beautiful heritage building.
Seacourt Print Workshop was founded in 1981 by Margaret Arthur and Jean Duncan, who wanted to be able to practice printmaking close to home and starting small, they established a print workshop in the centre of Bangor.
To help pay for overheads and purchase equipment they delivered courses to local people, then schools and the membership started to grow.
Seacourt is now a community of 70 plus printmakers with hundreds of people of all ages and abilities engaging in its programmes annually, with a strong focus on developing positive health and wellbeing through art and printmaking.
Over the past 40 years, Seacourt has worked with a number of local organisations, offering projects and workshops to local schools and community groups, creating jobs for local people and those taking the first steps in their career.
Seacourt now wishes to share the magic of printmaking, employment opportunities, workshops, events and exhibitions within this prominent city centre location.
Since relocating to the old bank in September 2021, members have thrown themselves into nurturing and embracing it as their new workshop space for members to make work, facilitate workshops, host exhibitions and open its doors to the public.
"By securing the bank as our permanent home, we intend to help create a thriving city centre where people can explore heritage, music and visual arts," said Emma Drury, Director at Seacourt Print Workshop.
"We offer year-round events and activities that provide fun, creative experiences, connection to other people and the opportunity to explore talents.
"It has taken a great deal of effort from lots of people to help Seacourt get to this point, members, volunteers, staff, friends and many others, whose help we couldn’t have done without.
"The continued support of the people of Bangor and beyond means a great deal to everyone involved with Seacourt."
Chairman, Ken Sterrett added: "Giving Seacourt a permanent home in the centre of Bangor is a key milestone that we have been working towards for a number of years.
"We have great ambitions for Seacourt as well as Bangor and it represents an extremely exciting time for all involved.
"It has been clear for a number of years that Bangor’s city centre needs more than a retail offering to bring it back to its former glory. Arts and community must play a key part in Bangor’s regeneration.
"The opportunity to buy the Ulster Bank building presents not only a wonderful opportunity to do just that but also a fantastic opportunity to cement Seacourt’s long term future as well.
"I would urge everyone who cares about art, their local community, Bangor regeneration and mental wellbeing to support our campaign and help bring Seacourt home."
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