An art gallery has opened in a former Wilko store in Hillsborough, which closed in September 2023 after the high-street chain collapsed. Hypha Studios, a charity led by director Will Jennings, repurposed the empty retail space to provide artists with a venue for exhibitions, acting as a middleman between landlords and creatives.
This initiative matters because it reimagines the future of the high street by transforming vacant commercial properties into cultural hubs. By making art accessible in everyday locations, it democratizes the arts and could nurture emerging talent, potentially discovering the next Turner Prize winner from a former discount store.