There's still no news on the future of the Rye Creative Centre (RCC) - it is due to be demolished as part of the housing development planned for the Freda Gardham old school site. Rye News has been featuring the stories of some of the artists at the centre who have been telling us about their work and their concerns for the future.
This week: Keith Kettle
As an amateur artist I never thought I'd get the chance of working in my own studio again or being part of a community of artists which is what RCC is. When a studio was offered in 2022, I jumped and have never looked back. I know how rare spaces are and especially affordable ones.
Back in the 90s I was part of Studio Voltaire in Clapham, it was commune of artist, sculptures, theatre and film people with a desire to create. Against all odds it established itself as a successful arts organisation serving artists and the local community. Seeing certain similarities, threat of closure but one, made me think what RCC can achieve if there's enough people with vision!
Everyone agrees it's a good asset to Rye, socially, culturally and economically. The will is there, the heart, the vision, and the LAND too!
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to create something special, it won't come again.
Now I paint every day or every other day at the studio. I'm probably painting better now than ever before and that's not down to me, it's down to RCC, the community of artists, the encouragement, the advice, the ideas it generates.
RCC changes lives, it changed mine.
Take it away and you change nothing!
Keith Kettle artist (of no consequence)
