A brand new shop unit in centre:mk is set to become the city's new Creative and Cultural hub.
The unit, on the external elevation of centre:mk's multistory car park, is being taken over by Big Shop Friday - an artist-led initiative that aims to offer a platform for the creative community in Milton Keynes. An event was held in the space earlier this month to start scoping out what such a space might look like.
A spokesman from Big Shop Friday said: "We were invited by MKAC as part of their project with Kitty Finer, to host an event in what is hopefully going to become a physical venue for Big Shop Friday to operate. The event was to introduce who we are, what we are doing and find answers to the question: What does an artist-led space look like in Milton Keynes? In this we are recognising that Milton Keynes isn't like any other city, and so we have to approach running an artist led space differently from the more standard structure. The event posed a lot of good points, and raised more questions than it probably answered. But we're feeling positive about the future and the potential that an artist-led space, being a supportive and innovative space for artists and creatives to meet, network, work and hang out, has a place in Milton Keynes
Fiona Boundy, Creative and Cultural Manager for MK Council said ‘Milton Keynes Council’s Economy and Culture team are proud to support Big Shop Friday in their new premises, within centre: mk’s new multi-storey car park. Big Shop have already made an important contribution to MK’s growing cultural scene and now, with a CMK venue they will be able to build on their remarkable achievements and offer emerging artists and creatives the opportunity to be part of an innovative and exciting programme of events, exhibitions, workshops, talks and other activities. Big Shop Friday also offers MK’s residents the chance to experience and be part of the very best of the city’s emerging cultural offer’.
