The Old Coal Yard start-up businesses welcomed five new tenants in the past month. The latest to arrive are Julia and Lucy of Number 15 Gallery. Julia, a Hambledon resident for nearly 30 years, and her friend Lucy, from Godalming, are opening a small Artists’ studio and gallery space at The Old Coal Yard, next to the Merry Harriers.
They met at Changing Perceptions in Godalming, a now, sadly, closed social enterprise for The Meath Epilepsy Charity (where Lucy was the assistant manager and Julia a volunteer). The days spent upcycling furniture and laughing (a lot) with the Meath residents are missed by everyone who spent time there.
Both of them have art backgrounds and wanted to be able to work and show their wares in a dedicated light and airy space. In 2022 they held a pop-up art exhibition in one of the, then, empty units (at the Old Coal Yard) in aid of The Fountain Centre Charity at the Royal Surrey County Hospital. It was such a great success and a lovely experience that they decided to take on a new unit when one became available – 2 years later and here they are.
Not only will they be creating and selling their own work in Hambledon, they will also have the work of 5 other local artists on display in the space – ceramics, stained glass, reupholstered and painted furniture, photography and paintings will all be available.
After much back and forth trying to choose a name for the gallery – they hit upon “Number 15” (a remarkable coincidence as they are in unit 15 at The Old Coal Yard).
Julia is excited about their opening day. “It is on Saturday 15th March (15th?!) at 3pm (15:00 hours?!) and everyone is most welcome to come and say hello. We are both delighted to be joining the gang at The Coal Yard and happy to finally have a studio space that we don’t have to clear up in time for dinner!”
Lucy added “Number 15 is scheduled to be open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, but if you see us in there at any other time, just pop in!”. www.Number15.net
