In 2014, two Shrewsbury based artists Elizabeth Turner and Jill Impey were offered the old supermarket in Riverside Mall as a permanent arts space if they formed a Community Interest Company to operate it. Keith Ashford, another local artist joined to form Participate Contemporary Artspace CIC.
Other local artists were keen to take up space and help with the day to day running of a busy arts’ hub. There are now over twenty two studio artists regularly working in the space, with visiting artists in the project spaces and a regular exhibition programme.
Local volunteers help to keep the gallery open to the public by invigilating exhibitions, as well as contributing other skills to the organisation.