An arts workshop in the city which has existed for 40 years is to permanently close, organisers say.

Director of Worcester Arts Workshop Hannah Phillips said: “During the two-year transformation process we have always looked to the future and that is what we must do again during these uncertain and challenging times.

"The board have taken a financially and ethically responsible, yet difficult decision. As artists we now have to find alternative ways of working outside of buildings yet rooted within communities.”

The creative hub had received emergency funding during lockdown, enabling online classes and projects to continue.

However, the ongoing closure of the building and the difficulty of making the spaces coronavirus safe means the city centre premises will not reopen, organisers say.

In 2019, the workshop was awarded £9,995 from Worcester City Council's Inclusive Growth grant scheme to create training and job opportunities emerging artists, volunteers and young people.

The grant followed an announcement of £49,750 funding from the Arts Council.

Worcester Arts Workshop’s Board of Trustees has made the following statement:

"It is with great sadness that we announce that Worcester Arts Workshop will not be re-opening. The lease will be handed back to the owners, Worcestershire County Council.

"As with all arts organisations, the pandemic has brought considerations to the fore that have required us to think differently about our future."

A spokesman said all refunds, partial and full, have been made to hirers and students, all other payments settled, and anticipate the permanent closure of the building by the end of September.

Richard Hayhow, co-founder of Worcester Arts Workshop and director of Open Theatre, said:

“WAW began its life as a fledgling arts centre in the mid-70’s – our aspiration in those days was to work with a wide and diverse range of Worcester people, creating art together that was engaging and meaningful for them.

"Since then, through an impressive number of years, the work has remained true to that aspiration in many manifestations and despite some significant challenges. In particular, the collapse of the front wall in 1983 during the building’s redevelopment was devastating but, in the end, served to reinforce the importance of people as being at the heart of the work rather than the building itself.

"A wide range of outreach work grew from that period, engaging even more people in creative practices, and the organisation adapted in response to this. So even now when faced with the complete closure of the building I am hopeful that the WAW spirit and aspiration will live on, to be reinvented and reimagined by the many people who have explored and realised their creativity there.”