The Department
Creative Hub Transformation
ERMC were appointed by Shademakers and the Isle of Wight Council as Capital Project Manager to support the refurbishment and reconfiguration of the 825sqm former Elizabeth Pack Department Store into their permanent headquarters and a central cultural hub for performance and arts in Ryde.
The scheme aimed to utilise Arts Council funding to transform the Grade II listed Packs Building in Ryde into a creative hub led by Shademakers CIC. It repurposed the existing structure into a multifunctional space for making, performing, learning, and community use, while enhancing accessibility, circulation, and heritage value. The design retained historic features and introduced a café, studios, performance areas, and a gallery to reinvigorate the building’s cultural and civic role.
Shademakers
Shademarkers are an arts company, with Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation status.
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For over 30 years, Shademakers has operated as a nomadic organisation of creatives, borrowing space and only ever growing to suit the limitations of their surroundings. Shademakers are a key player in the Isle of Wight's artistic and cultural life.
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Their partnership with the Isle of Wight Council brings together local leadership with cultural and creative practitioners who seek to unlock economic growth and productivity through creating new sustainable jobs, training and entrepreneurial pursuits.
