Help us expand our Bakery to fund more arts!

by Narture CIC in Ayr, South Ayrshire Council, United Kingdom

Total raised £5,897

raised so far

150

supporters

Help us expand our award winning Sourdough Bakery to earn the dough to fund more art projects, fostering employment and revitalising Ayr.

by Narture CIC in Ayr, South Ayrshire Council, United Kingdom

We're still collecting donations

On the 7th May 2024 we'd raised £5,700 with 142 supporters in 28 days. But as every pound matters, we're continuing to collect donations from supporters.

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At Narture CIC our mission is to bake real bread to earn the dough to fund arts projects. We're on a mission to blend the art of sourdough baking with town centre regeneration through creativity, sustainability, and wellbeing. But to continue making a tangible impact, we knead your support to expand our bread baking  capacity!

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What We Need:

We're urgently seeking £15,000 to fund the acquisition and installation of a new industrial bread oven, mixers, fridges and a pastry sheeter. We will use our funds raised to purchase equipment, to prepare the new space for the equipment and necessary trades to install them. These vital additions will allow us to meet the growing demand from local customers, restaurants and hotels while sustaining our commitment to artisanal quality and community engagement. With this investment, we can expand our production capacity, create even more fair work employment opportunities, and further our mission of fostering creativity, sustainability, and wellbeing within our community. 

By supporting our crowdfunding campaign, you're not just contributing to the purchase of a piece of equipment; you're investing in the future of  Ayr by means of supporting our social enterprise and the vibrancy of our community. Together, let's ensure that Narture CIC continues to serve as a beacon of hope, creativity, and culinary excellence for generations to come. Join us in shaping a future where every loaf baked is a testament to the transformative power of art, community, and sustainable living.

Our Impact:

Over the past 8 years, we've transformed several vacant spaces in Ayr through a series of pop-up events, inspired by the Beuysian notion that 'everyone is an artist'. Previous projects can be viewed here: https://www.narture.co.uk/projects

Enterprises like Narture CIC play a critical role in the regeneration of Ayr town centre, as evidenced by our transformative impact on unused and derelict spaces. Our mission revolves around town centre revival, activating empty spaces with artistic endeavours. Our vision is to establish sustainable income sources, providing fair work employment and spaces for skill development and community engagement.1712580799_neutral_beige_simple_abstract_body_text_instagram_post_(2).png

In the last four years we've brought several unused properties to life in Ayr, including our award winning Sourdough Bakery and popular Cafe on Sandgate, and Narture Studios, MAKE, and our latest venture, SHAPE, on New Market Street. We have taken these otherwise run down spaces and repurposed them into hubs for creativity and wellbeing in service of our community. 

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But our impact extends beyond physical spaces. Through partnerships with artists like Gerard Connelly, a respected photographer living with dementia, we curated his debut exhibition, "You Can See and I Can Remember," in collaboration with Heathfield House Nursing Home. This exhibit highlighted the beauty of our local landscapes and the strength of the human spirit. The exhibition opportunities we provide, like Gerard's and many others, along with workshops and volunteer roles, empower individuals to uncover their passions and potential, enriching not only their lives but also the wider community.

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Over two months, we collaborated with National Galleries of Scotland and Recovery Ayr to facilitate creative workshops inspired by Alberta Whittle's exhibit at the National Galleries in Edinburgh. Inspired by Alberta’s themes of 'creating dangerously,' we explored Auchincruive Estate's history, using art as resistance for a compassionate future. Participants shared powerful stories, resulting in a transformative window exhibition at 58-62 High St, Ayr. This project provided a vital safe space for those in early recovery, offering hope and a creative outlet during a critical time, showcasing the profound impact of creativity in healing and transformation.

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We've continually evolved as a dynamic enterprise, constantly growing and learning. Our Artisan Cafe in Sandgate began as an exhibition space. Starting with "Water Salt Grain" by a diverse artist collective, exploring the essential ingredients of bread making, to commissioning "Paper Cave" by local artist Laura McGlinchey, a versatile space blending sculpture and painting, we've transformed and utilised our space for various creative events. Our goal has consistently been to offer artists a platform to make, show and interact with the public. Through this, we aim to empower individuals to build confidence in their creativity and critical thinking skills, providing them with a sense of purpose in a world increasingly influenced by digital AI technologies. 

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Through our endeavours, we are currently employing 10 local people all earning a living wage, providing affordable studio spaces to 7 artists, supplying exhibition spaces to many artists and offering volunteer opportunities to retirees, students and anyone wishing to contribute their time. Local artisans and artists get a chance to earn money from running workshops, ranging from Acrylic Painting to Ceramic Mug Making, attracting locals keen on learning new skills and fostering creative employability. With our small team of employees and volunteers, we're providing versatile facilities where you can learn new skills, try Riso printing, delve into analogue photography, or simply gather for meetings and workshops. Every artist we engage with has the chance to gain exposure, confidence, and growth opportunities. 

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Our ultimate aim is to establish a fully sustainable arts organisation, generating our own income to offer a more accesible arts programme to the community.

The Sourdough Bakery is the primary income generator and we aspire to extend these facilities to increase our social impact further. However, expanding entails substantial costs. Your support is indispensable in sustaining and amplifying our meaningful initiatives.

Your generous donation today will enable us to invest in valuable resources to expand our baking capacity and ultimately provide more employment, more learning opportunities as well as fostering more creative initiatives. Together, we can make a lasting difference in our community.

Our Story:

Narture CIC acts as a hub for creativity, sustainability, and wellbeing in Ayr. Born amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, this vision was nurtured by the collaborative efforts of Robert and Saskia Singer, an artist father-daughter duo. Their aim was to create a space not only for artistic expression but also to rejuvenate their hometown.

At the heart of Narture are Robert and Saskia, driven by their shared dedication to establishing a sustainable arts organisation. They aim to offer fair employment opportunities for artists, utilising both their creative and auxiliary skills. Additionally, they aspire to enrich the local community with arts and cultural programmes, and to establish a Peoples Art School concept across different spaces, addressing the lack of creative facilities upon leaving education.

The project aims to provide facilities and infrastructure to support creative individuals in maximising their skills. Primary skills represent their educational passions, while auxiliary skills encompass the jobs they undertake to support their studies. By harnessing these combined skills, the Peoples Art School aims to develop a sustainable, self-sustaining creative economy.

Sourdough Bakery:
Our first permanent space, Narture Sourdough Bakery at 3 Cathcart, Ayr, stands as a testament to our commitment to innovation and community impact. Renovated in June 2020, this bakery has been more than a place to knead dough; it's been a hub of transformation. From our initial experiments in 'proving our cause'—that baking sourdough can fund arts projects—this has achieved Bread Bakery of the Year award by Prestige Scotland for the third year running. Narture Sourdough Bakery has been the cornerstone of our social enterprise. Here, our handmade bakery produce is crafted and then retailed from our cafe across the road at 22 Sandgate, Ayr, as well as supplying wholesale to a number of significant restaurants and hotels. In line with our social mission, we intentionally produce surplus to supply nutritious items to local food banks, ensuring accessibility for those who may otherwise be excluded.

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Narture Artisan Cafe:
Located at 22 Sandgate (The historic Lady Cathcart House), Narture Artisan Cafe has been a sanctuary for art and community engagement over the past two years. Originally utilised as an art space during the COVID-19 pandemic, the cafe has evolved into a vibrant hub where creativity meets culinary excellence. Through window exhibitions and performances commissioned from local artists, we've highlighted the historical significance of Lady Cathcart House to Ayr town centre. Everything we serve, from our specialty sourdough produce to our kombucha, coffee and teas, is made in-house using locally sourced ingredients.

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MAKE:
MAKE is a ground-level accessible multipurpose area, esteemed within the local community, brimming with creative vitality. Here, we host monthly exhibitions and array of workshops where individuals can unleash their artistic flair, utilising resources like our Riso printer and community dark room for analogue photography. MAKE serves as a launchpad for local makers, providing a centralised location in Ayr town centre to exhibit and sell their crafts. More than just a space, MAKE fosters a sense of community, offering opportunities to learn, connect, and nurture confidence in creativity and critical thinking.

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Narture Studios:
Adding another layer of history and charm to our offerings is Narture Studios, situated at 34 Newmarket Street, Ayr. This historic gem, once the first public library of Ayr dating back to 1870, now stands as a testament to our dedication to both wellbeing and creativity. The building is thoughtfully divided into two realms: one dedicated to nurturing wellbeing and the other to fostering creativity.

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Our Urgent Need:
Amidst our flourishing endeavours, we face a pressing challenge. The demand for our handmade sourdough produce has surged, necessitating an expansion of our sourdough baking capacity. To address this need and further our mission of empowerment through creativity, we urgently require £15,000 to purchase essential bakery equipment, these funds will also cover the costs of hiring tradespeople to install the equipment. Additionally, we strive to improve and extend our bakery operations into Cafe Shape, our newly acquired food and arts venue situated at 32 Newmarket Street. This expansion will enable us to meet the increasing demand from both the community and local restaurants and hotels, while also allowing us to increase our earnings to sustain our creative projects. Through acquiring new equipment and optimising our space, we aim to increase revenue to support arts projects within our local community. This advancement brings us closer to our goal of becoming a fully self-sufficient arts organisation.

By supporting our crowdfunding campaign, you're not just investing in a bakery; you're investing in a vision of community empowerment, artistic expression and town centre regeneration. Together, let's ensure that Narture CIC continues to be a beacon of hope and creativity for all members of our society. Join us in shaping a future where 'everyone is an artist', and where positive change begins with each loaf we bake.


We truly appreciate your donations, and we hope our rewards brings you joy.

Let's work together to make this vision a reality!

Rewards

This project offered rewards

£120 or more

Sourdough Workshop & Lunch

Join us for a three-hour workshop delving into the art of sourdough bread making. Discover the fundamentals and the magic of wild yeast baking as we guide you through creating your own sourdough starter. You'll learn the process of crafting a no-knead sourdough loaf using our starter and gain the skills to bake with confidence at home. Lunch included. You will take home: - your own sourdough starter -banneton worth £25 (proofing basket)

£10 or more

Coffee and pastry deal for two

Embark on a delightful rendezvous at our Artisan Café with our Coffee and Pastry Deal for Two. Treat yourself and a companion to the perfect pairing of hot beverages and sourdough pastries, handcrafted with care and brimming with flavour. Dine in only at our Cafe 22 Sandgate, Ayr KA7 1LP.

£10 or more

Introduction to Mindfulness Session

Experience an enlightening introduction to Mindfulness guided by wellbeing practitioner Zana. Discover the essence of mindfulness with two immersive audio recordings. Don't miss this opportunity for self-discovery and inner peace. 2.5 hours session

£15 or more

Narture Tote Bag

Screen printed canvas tote bag handmade by us featuring our spiral logo!

£20 or more

Sourdough Bread Hamper

Our Sourdough Bread Hamper, featuring four unique loaves from our bakery. Perfect for sharing with friends, these artisanal delights are freezer-friendly, allowing you to enjoy them at your leisure. Donate now and experience the deliciousness of freshly baked sourdough bread, straight from our kitchen to yours. Collection only from our Cafe at 22 Sandgate, Ayr KA7 1LP.

£20 or more

Bread Proofing Basket Banneton for Sourdough Bread

Elevate your sourdough game with our Bread Proofing Basket Banneton – the secret to artisanal perfection! Crafted for the bread enthusiast, this handwoven basket is designed to cradle your dough as it rises, creating a beautifully textured crust and a light, airy interior.

£25 or more

Limited Edition Riso Print

A limited edition Riso print by one of our founding artists, Saskia Jae Singer. Riso printing is a sustainable printing method using soya based, vegetable inks, similar to screen printing. With only 40 prints available, this is a great opportunity to own a beautiful work of art, embodying Saskia's distinctive style and vision.

£35 or more

Paint and Sip Party Ticket

Join us for a vibrant Paint and Sip party at our Studios! It's a perfect opportunity to mingle, meet local artists, and unleash your creativity in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. Whether you're a seasoned artist or just starting out, come and create something new while having fun and unwinding with friends. It's sure to be a delightful evening filled with laughter, new connections, and artistic expression.

£40 or more

Lunch for two

Indulge in a delightful experience where you and a guest can savour the finest offerings from our artisanal kitchen. Delight your taste buds with our selection of delectable sandwiches and perfectly crafted sourdough pastries, and hot drinks all prepared with care and attention to detail. Bookings must be made with 48 hours notice via email to [email protected]. Cafe opening hours are Tuesday-Saturday 9am-4pm at 22 Sandgate, Ayr KA7 1LP.

£40 or more

Saskia Jae Singer Tshirt

Introducing Saskia Jae Singer's exclusive Narture-branded T-shirt, designed by the artist herself. This chic and eclectic masterpiece is a one-of-a-kind creation, available exclusively through this crowdfunding campaign. With its artistic flair and unique design, it's the perfect statement piece for those who appreciate creativity and individuality. Don't miss your chance to own a wearable work of art and show your support for Narture CIC.

£45 or more

Riso Workshop

Join us for an unforgettable Riso workshop at MAKE! Discover the magic of Risograph printing as we guide you through the process of creating vibrant and unique prints. Learn the ins and outs of this eco-friendly printing technique, from preparing your artwork to operating the Riso machine. With hands-on experience and expert guidance, you'll have the opportunity to unleash your creativity and produce your very own Riso prints.

£50 or more

Supper Club Ticket

A Supper Club ticket grants you exclusive access to an unforgettable culinary experience. Picture this: a renowned gourmet chef takes centre stage in one of our charming venues, crafting a sumptuous feast inspired by a captivating theme. It's an evening filled with tantalizing aromas, exquisite flavours, and delightful company—a true celebration of culinary artistry and community spirit.

£70 or more

Ayurvedic Massage

Unwind with a tranquil oil massage embracing your entire body, ensuring ultimate relaxation. Ayurveda, an ancient Indian science, offers holistic healing and well-being. Tailored to your individual body type, oil selection is personalised through consultation. Enjoy this revitalising experience at Merchant Ayurveda, led by Dr. Irfan Merchant in Park Circus Ayr. Duration: 1.5 hours.

£80 or more

Bundle Reward

Screen printed Narture spiral logo tote bag, Riso print by Saskia Jae Singer and Lunch for 2

£200 or more

A Year's Supply of Sourdough Bread

A Year's Supply of Sourdough Bread, choose 1 loaf per week from our sourdough range, and only applies to days we're open: Tuesday - Saturday 9am-4pm, collection only. Collection only from our cafe at 22 Sandgate, Ayr KA7 1LP.

£1,000 or more

Our most prestigious reward: 'Name a Bread'

For a generous donation of £1000, you'll have the unique opportunity to leave your mark on our bakery by naming a bespoke bread. Crafted with sustainable 'wildfarmed flour', renowned for its superior taste, nutritional benefits, and positive environmental impact, this bread will bear your chosen name. It's more than just a loaf—it's a testament to your commitment to sustainability, a chance to make a lasting impression on our culinary creations.

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