by Lewis Dyson

An empty shop has been given a new lease of life.

The space in the Forum shopping centre, High Street, Sittingbourne, will be used to showcase work from artists from across Swale.

The shop is different every day, with a range of exhibitions and demonstrations taking place.

Murals are painted in the windows on Mondays and Thursdays, while carving takes place on Tuesdays and poets and writers take over the shop on Wednesdays.

There are prizes and competitions being run and badge making and face painting are available on most Saturdays.

The shop was opened three weeks ago by Swale mayoress Cllr Sylvia Bennett and MP Gordon Henderson.

The project was organised by the Swale Arts Forum (SAF) - an umbrella organisation of artistic groups.

Chairman Sioux Peto hailed the shop as a "phenomenal success".

She said they has counted more than 100 participants coming through the door every day.

She said: "We would like to thank the people of Sittingbourne for making us feel so welcome. We have had such positive comments from people saying it is something they want in the town.

"Artists can engage with the public on a different level to find out what they would like to see and do.

"It is also about creating an environment for people to live in, so art should be very centred into regeneration."

The idea was conceived by 795, a group of sculptors, painters and photographers based in the borough.

They devised the plan for a shop at their monthly meeting at the Red Lion pub, Sittingbourne High Street.

Rents have been waived by Tesco, which owns the Forum, and rates were reduced to 80% as the SAF qualifies as a community group.

Funding was provided by a £1,200 Swale Arts Grant and councillors Roger Truelove and Ghlin Whelan awarded £500 from their councillors' regeneration fund.

The remaining money comes from SAF and the artists who pay a fee to have their work exhibited in the shop.

Although the shop is planned to run for three months, Sioux says they would like to do something similar in the town every year.