Petition To Turn Groves School Into Art Centre

A petition to turn the Groves school into a community arts centre has been launched online.

So far 112 people have signed the petition in support of using the girls grammar school building as an art space.

Demolition on the 1960s ‘modern’ building began at the end of last month, and has almost been completed with just the old sports hall left standing.

The process has seen the removal of:

• The five story main block building.
• Sports Hall
• Science Block
• The old gym
• Caretakers bungalow in the grounds.

The older buildings have been retained and have covenants on them to ensure they only get used for educational purposes. However recently the windows have been covered with metal sheets to prevent unauthorised use of the building.

The petition states:

“This beautiful and practical building is in grave danger of falling into serious disrepair. It has many significant, historical aspects, especially being the only purpose-built grammar school built in Wales between the wars and being in the unique position of being gifted to the community on the condition that it is used for the purposes of education in perpetuity. 

Wrexham is in dire need of a Community Arts Centre. This could be used by individuals and groups of all ages from pre school to post retirement for any aspect of visual, written, aural or performing arts. 

The building was custom built as a school and as such the rooms are eminently suitable for workshop, studio, seminar, exhibition and performance spaces. 

Its unique design lends itself beautifully to cafes, craft shops etc around the quad and cloisters and the magnificent Art Deco staircase, with its authenticated cast of part of the Elgin Marbles and glazed ceiling, would make a spectacular reception area. 
The imposing and still beautiful school building is situated in its own extensive grounds on the main approach to Wrexham from the North and is currently something of an eyesore. By developing the site and opening it up to tourism, visitors and the local community as a self sustaining, non-profit organisation the council would raise the standard of the community both visually and culturally.”

The petiton can be found by following this link: http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/wrexham-county-borough-council-support-an-arts-centre-on-the-groves-site