Plans to transform a former grain barge into an arts venue are well under way. Sally Clifford popped by to check progress on the historic Selby Tony.
Body text: THE deluge from the previous days’ downpours has to be dealt with before tools can be turned to the jobs in hand. Removing water from the tarpaulin protecting the deck house so work can begin is nothing to the hands-on crew, considering the scale of this ambitious project.
Watching on, Hannah West, co-director of the scheme to transform the historic Selby Tony into a public arts facility in York, talks about this wonderful work in progress. Considering this venture is being led by unpaid supporters and volunteers, many of them like Hannah juggling the work with full-time jobs, demonstrates the strength of community spirit and teamwork by those with a shared vision of the benefits this old barge is going to bring.
There is no end date to the completion as funding is sporadic. The work now being carried out on the deckhouse is very much thanks to a recent crowdfunder which raised £5000 for the materials to make the next stage of the project possible.
The barge is earning its keep, as Hannah explains they have held some pop-up events and have partnered with festivals in York. Being part of the events also helps to raise the profile of the arts barge and what they are trying to achieve.
Hidden gem
Body text: “We really like it here because it is in a quiet corner and it is more of a hidden gem,” says Hannah, referring to the barge’s location in the Foss Basin. The aim, Hannah explains, is to build the deckhouse roof, cover it with glass fibre and then fit the doors and windows.
Dry spells have been few and far between of late and, anticipating winter, volunteers were making the most of the sunny September weather on the Saturday morning when I popped by.
“The plan is to build it as much as we can before winter and put the tarpaulin back on, and in the spring start finishing the roof off,” says Hannah.
There are still some internal jobs to finish off and they are keen to install an accessible lift, toilet and baby changing facilities. “The crowning glory will be the accessible lift,” says Hannah.
Instead of working to a time frame, Hannah says they are managing the project step by step.
“There is nobody working on it that is getting paid at all,” says Hannah, who appreciates all the support the project has received so far. “It is all built with kindness.”
The transformation of the Selby Tony is a work in progress, but seeing the volunteers at work – on a weekend when many may have other commitments – demonstrates how the progress and, ultimate completion, of this project is very much a labour of love.
“It has taken so long – we bought it in 2013 and we are now in year 11 but it would be folly to say when this will be done by,” says Hannah.
Small fleet
Selby Tony was built in 1957 by Dunston’s shipyard in Thorne and commissioned by BOCM (British animal feed manufacturer) in Selby. The 103ft long barge was part of a small fleet of barges built to carry animal feed, grain and other goods between Hull, Goole, Selby, Leeds and York. Hannah explains the barges were all named after the children of the company’s area managers.
The art therapist says they were looking for a base for their arts project and turned their attentions to a floating venue to take advantage of the river setting. Hannah explains one of the founder members had experience of running a business on a boat and, with the help of a grant, they were able to purchase Selby Tony.
It was tugged from Waddingtons in Swinton, from where it was purchased it and where it underwent some of the work in dry dock, to York where it has remained, apart from its time at Hirst Boatbuilders in Knottingley when it underwent steelwork. A crowdfunder was set up resulting in the £15,000 required to insulate the barge, but only a few events took place due to the Covid lockdown.
Hannah says momentum is now picking up and they are looking forward to making further progress.
“People are rocking up and putting the time in – it’s what they do for fun,” says Hannah.To get involved with the project or to find out more visit: www.artsbarge.com or search Arts Barge Project on Facebook or @artsbarge on Instagram.
