The Engine Room, Somerset’s new Bridgwater based creative media centre, will open its doors to the public from Friday 28 February with a launch party on Friday 14 March between 12 noon and 9.00pm. Please take the opportunity to call during the preview fortnight (28 February - 13 March) to see the new centre, which is in High Street, Bridgwater next to the Tourism Information Centre. Find out about our introductory 3 month programme and be certain to join us on 14 March at our launch party. The 3 month programme will include courses in film-making, web design, image manipulation as well as specialist weekend workshops on animation, music recording and Avid editing. The season will include “Where You To?” your opportunity to work with moving images, with stills or with sound to create a portrait of your community, family, your street or yourself. There will be lunchtime screenings of classic cinema and evening shows of contemporary and international work. During the Easter Holiday there will be one week film and animation schools and the whole programme will culminate in a special event running from 30 May 10 1 June inclusive. All courses will be available at heavily reduced prices to communities across Bridgwater and Somerset. The Engine Room will be open to everyone but with special provision being made for unemployed persons, the disabled, children and the elderly.

We welcome back to Bridgwater, Luke Wiles who facilitated the “Catching the Light” film project in 2001. Luke is returning to work with us to head up the three month opening programme for the Engine Room. From 17 February we welcome Deborah Richardson to the team as a much needed adninistrator! A welcome also to Indu Kingston-Leigh who will be running the Engine Room coffee bar. The Engine Room has been made possible with funding from UKonline, the Regional Arts Lottery Programme, South West Screen, Somerset County Council and Sedgemoor District Council. The District Council’s investment of £32,000 into the project has gained around £300,000 of inward investment from the other sources.

Phil Shepherd from Somerset Film and Video Ltd. is overseeing the project and observed: “The young and old will be able to learn how to make their own films with the help of cutting edge digital technology and with highly skilled tutors. There will be exciting programmes and courses for a wide range of people including schools and colleges, the unemployed and disadvantaged”.

For further information please contact: Chris Sidaway - Arts Officer,
Sedgemoor District Council, Bridgwater House, King Square, Bridgwater TA6 3AR email: arts@sedgemoor.gov.uk