There has been up until recently a little shop tucked just out of view off the main tourist trail through Salisbury centre called the Mole Hole. This used to be a cute little craft centre that had probably been there years but sadly due decreasing interest has recently closed. It was run by a couple of elderly folk who always had friends sewing or knitting in the back of the shop and one always got the impression that the shop was run to allow these old timers to socialise rather than to make any money.

I pass the empty shop every day on my way to work and it gets me thinking ‘what if’ every time. I have used a couple of the printing places in the city, opting to visit a real high street shop as opposed to a virtual one on the net. In all occasions, the visit ends up with me working the equipment myself and paying for the privilege. I think it would be a great idea to set up a walk in creative lab/workshop for everyone to use and get creative but who don’t have the funds to buy the equipment themselves. With the increasing student population and the huge variety of local bands doing the rounds in the city I’m sure they would love the opportunity to produce cheap affordable flyers or merchandise as well as work on personal projects. That coupled with the opportunity of holding regular workshop events makes an idea like this a really good one.

I’ve seen similar set ups, one which I was always curious to try was the drop in photography studio and darkrooms in Edinburgh but sadly never got round to it. Over in the States theres been a successful network of creative labs which have been going for a few years now, its only a matter of time before we see a similar set up in this country.