Ed Davey visits The Old Print Works
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Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey visits BSU supported arts project
Thursday, 18 December, 2025Last Friday saw leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey visit The Old Print Works, a community arts project supported by Bath Spa University. Accompanied by Anna Sabine, MP for Frome, Radstock and Somer Valley, the pair met with local year 6 pupils of Trinity Church School, to create Christmas wreaths.
Located in Radstock, The Old Print Works is run by Bath Spa University's Inclusive Communities team and Little Lost Robot CIC, a community-led arts, learning and making centre. The team work to support people who are often excluded from traditional routes into education and work. Based in a former industrial building, the site now provides free and low-cost access to creative studios, workshops and cultural activity for children, young people and adults across the Somer Valley.
Meeting members of the team, Ed and Anna toured the site with Ruby Sant, BSU's Inclusive Communities Officer. The Old Print Works is comprised of multiple arts making spaces, from art and music studios to a pottery workspace and other facilities. Artists and local people from within the Somer Valley and surrounding area are able to access to gain access to education and learn valuable skills for employment.
Around 110 people access the centre each week, and 814 people attended workshops last year. Another 1500 attended events. The project has reached audiences of over 15,000 through work with CERN and other local public art projects. With over 60 of the 175 people worked with going on to become employed or self-employed.
The team combine hands-on making, digital and immersive arts, heritage craft and community learning. They support early years creativity, youth programmes, artist residencies and intensive work with NEET young people, working-class artists, parents and carers, and people experiencing poor mental health or social isolation. Ruby commented:
"The project really shows the impact a university can have when it works in the community, authentically and engages with local people where they are. It so important that education reaches everyone and there are creative pathways and other learning opportunities for those who cannot learn “traditionally”.
Through drop-in provision, structured courses and public events, the team build confidence, skills and routes into sustainable creative careers. The Old Printworks is a welcoming, democratic space rooted in local need, industrial heritage and collective creativity, helping communities thrive socially, culturally and economically. Ruby continued:
"We were delighted to host Lib Dem Lead Ed Davey at The Printworks and showcase the work we do here to support people into creative work. Ed was particularly excited by our work with young people, who do not normally engage in education into creative FE/HE and employment, Ed was highlighting the importance of the Southwest region, which is often overlooked for funding, government investment and support".
To find out more about the work of the Inclusive Communities team, check out their page on our website.