Our collective first came together in February 2016. Six artists, designers, and creatives with studios on the top floor of Latimer House; a boutique shop in Saxon Square, Christchurch. Our studios were open to the public when we were in residence and gave us somewhere to interact with the people supporting our work. The arrangement worked well as it allowed us to come and go in between our other life commitments. For a group of ladies all very different, we found ourselves to be the most amazing group.

  

Then in mid-February the news came. Latimer House was to close. It was devastating, especially as the most recent members of our little group, Maureen and Rosie, had only been in situ for a couple of weeks!  Then there was a suggestion… a hint that it needn’t be the end. What if we stayed together? What if WE took over the lease and created a shop of our own?  It was an idea that inspired us all. We could continue the way we were and maybe grow it into something even more incredible!

 

We had a one-time opportunity to take over our own space and develop  something unique to us.

 

We set up a meeting to discuss this very scary prospect and suddenly Atelier was born! It didn’t have a name for quite some time as it happens, but  we had something we could visualise and the spirit of place started to work its’ magic. From that initial discussion the ideas began to flow and they have not stopped. The most noticeable thing from that first meeting of collaborators was that somehow we all seemed to have the same vision. We wanted to form somewhere we could showcase our work, but at the same time create a space that everyone wanted to be in. It could be a cultural hub where we could also hold workshops and exhibitions. We envisioned an ever changing scene where you could relax with a coffee or browse a selection of handmade items, made on site in our upstairs studios. It could be an area to inspire everyone to follow their dreams. If we could do this, then anyone could.

 

So several meetings later (and many sleepless nights) we were where we wanted to be. Signing the lease and dealing with the grown up stuff. It was really happening and all in the space of three weeks. That bit still amazes me. It just goes to show that if you have a passion for something you have to start saying ‘yes’ to the possibilities it inspires.

 

 For all the opportunities this brought we did have a few problems. The building was huge, full of potential, but it had no heating and no hot water. It was a bare shell. We needed to decorate, to build a counter and display staging and we needed to also, somehow, open to the public as soon as possible as our livelihoods depended on it! We resolved to go home and see what free stuff we could all muster. Amazingly we pulled together enough to really look like we could do this and function on a very basic level. We still had no heating or hot water, but using reclaimed and recycled wherever we could it began to take shape.

​

Over the course of the next six weeks we transformed 19 Saxon Square and on the 5th May, 2016 we opened our doors for the first time.

 

Our studios on the top floor are now closed to the public to allow us a private space to work in. We have, however, created a designated art gallery on the mezzanine level and diverse shop of handmade goods on the ground floor. Since opening we have welcomed many wonderful local artists and artisans to sell through us and we contine to take submissions of new work.