What was being used as a boys school in the centre of Preston is to be turned into an artistic hub.

For a year the People’s Production Lab is to transform the four-storey building which runs between Guildhall Street and Cannon Street.

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Put on by arts collective They Eat Culture it is going to be a performance space, run street markets and be a space to experiment.

Ruth Heritage from the group told Blog Preston: “We’ve got the keys and it’s going to be something very new and very exciting for Preston.

“What we need now is to find people to do this with us.

“There’s so much opportunity and potential with the building. We have all four floors and the car park space too.

“The People’s Production Lab will hold creative workshops and be a place to learn new skills and develop your own work.

“Throughout weekends we’re going to have a programme of tasty eats and drinks and a selling space which will draw you into the courtyard and basement.”

The building had been used as the Eden Boys School but has been donated to They Eat Culture by Conlon Construction for a year.

The first weekender events are due to begin in January.

Preston City Council’s cabinet member for culture and leisure councillor Peter Kelly said: “I’m delighted that They Eat Culture have the opportunity to enjoy a base in Preston city centre over the next few months.

“This can only complement the number of arts and culture spaces we have on offer across the city at the moment, and it’s great to see the building used in this way.

“Preston’s regional presence for arts and culture can only be enhanced as a result.”

On Thursday 21 December the building opened its doors for a special preview to give a flavour of what’s to come.

Getting #theppl up to scratch for thursdays open house @theyeatculture @CreativeLancs pic.twitter.com/E87cGqyndh

— Ruth Heritage (@ribbletonia) December 19, 2017

Read more: This Preston artist has been named Artist of the Year

From April the building will become more accessible with events, workshops and more.

More details on what type of events are happening, partners involved and when events are taking place will be released in the coming weeks and months.

How you can get involved

Become a partner or co-programmer

If you are interested in creative or social good experimentation then email ruth@theyeatculture.org

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Become a sponsor

Equipment, materials, resources, time, if you can help contact natalie@theyeatculture.org

Supply as a seller

You might do food and drink, be a product designer or need some space for the weekends, contact celine@theyeatculture.org

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Become a resident

From carpenters to coders, there’s the chance to have a space to pursue your passion, contact sally@theyeatculture.org

Become a volunteer

From events production to architectural wood work, there’s help needed, contact jack@theyeatculture.org

Come and visit

It’ll be open to the public, with lots of events going on, sign up to ppl@theyeatculture.org for the latest