The owner of a Luton arts centre has said that the venue has become her “nemesis and detrimental to my own creative practice” as she announced that it is to close amid the “difficult” current climate.
Artist Aimi Rix was one of three founder members of what opened as Little Red Creative Studios in April 2018 to provide a space for all arts and a welcoming environment for artists and performers to practice, teach, rehearse and deliver their arts, while also providing an alternative live music venue for the arts community
But the George Street space will shut its doors for the last time on November 13 when its lease runs out.
The news comes after another popular Luton venue, The Bear Club jazz and blues venue at Mill Yard will also close at the end of the year, with owner Justin Doherty admitting the “financial sword of Damocles swings overhead” as the cost of living crisis unfolds.
Similar to The Bear Club, Little Red Arts received emergency Arts Council Funding during the Covid pandemic lockdowns, which helped support it for a six-month period, but they were not successful in their second application.
Posting on Facebook, Aimi said: ‘The venue has been home to many artists of varied genres and has seen an incredibly diverse range of activities, loved and enjoyed by many in the community.
‘Little Red, although a purpose-made arts centre, has become my nemesis and detrimental to my own creative practice. My responsibility became so great as the sole owner of the business and venue manager, supporting so many other creatives that I have not been able to use the studios to produce my own work, counterproductive to why it exists.
‘I am happy that so many people have enjoyed this wonderful space, however, I have reached the 5-year point in my lease and have the opportunity to opt-out in November.
‘In the current climate it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain such a large venue and with so much uncertainty ahead now is the time to say goodbye to this beautiful building.’
Aimi is the artist behind a series of murals in the town, including ‘Tunnel Vision’ at Marsh Farm, the Feast Street entrance at The Mall shopping centre and another at the Church Street entrance was mistakenly ruined.
The Arts Council-funded piece called ‘Emerge and See’ featured an artistic hand emerging in a colourful explosion but it was accidentally painted over it, with the shopping centre’s maintenance team suspecting it was unauthorised. It was, however, recreated and remains there for shoppers and passers-by to enjoy.
Aimi was also the artist director behind the Power in Paint project, organised by the Save Our Town campaign group, which saw the dilapidated external hoarding around Luton Town’s new Power Court Stadium site painted by local artists, until Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis in February 2020 blew down and destroyed the majority of artworks.
Adding of her time at Little Red Arts, Aimi wrote: ‘I would like to thank everyone who has supported me and Little Red over the years (too many to name individually), support has been given in so many ways by so many people and it is you the community of Luton that has driven me and enabled me to keep the venue going through so much turbulence, for this I will always be truly grateful.’
A farewell soul night will be held on November 12, featuring local soul vocalist Yvonne Michelle, joined by the house band with J-Fills as excellent support.
