A popular York community venue has been damaged after being targeted by vandals twice in a matter of days.
The culprits attacked the entrance to the York Arts Barge, leaving a large hole next to the door and wreckage strewn across the deck.
Music promoter Niamh Bramley discovered the mess when she went to collect some equipment from the barge which is docked in Foss Basin.
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It appears to have happened over the weekend, and looks like an attempted break-in.
A neighbour saw a “group of lads” on the barge on Sunday at midday.
Niamh told YorkMix about the damage. “There was a big hole next to the door for starters,” she said.
“All the wood chipping and plywood that it was made of was like all beneath it.
“They’d used tools that we had on the barge for DIY projects to try and break in – various bits of gardening equipment and a metal bar. I think they just kind of grabbed anything to try and hack at it.”
Fortunately they didn’t managed to force open the door and gain access.
A few days earlier someone had tried to force a lock on a barge door, causing damage.
“You never know why somebody breaks in but clearly they wanted to come back and have a go again,” Niamh said.
The arts barge is run by volunteers, and a group of them have cleared up the mess and secured the entrance.
North Yorkshire Police have been informed and were sending round a forensics team.
“It’s really disheartening and it’s a complete contrast to the heart of the project, which is community,” Niamh said.
She’s been putting on events at the arts barge for years. The last show she put on before the break-in, last Friday, “was a beautiful successful gig” and the barge was “full of people that were there to support the barge and believe in the project itself”.
Everything at the venue, from chairs to the wood panelling, has been donated.
“We also rely on skilled volunteers to donate their time to install these and transform this historic vessel into a repurposed space for the community.”
York Arts Barge is found in a boat that used to belong to the BOCM factory in Selby where it transported animal feed, newsprint and other goods on the River Ouse between Selby, York, Goole and Hull.
Since work to turn it into a community venue started, it has hosted numerous gigs, featuring musicians, poets and other performers from around the world.
Some of the money that has been raised to develop the York Arts Barge will now be diverted to fix the damage caused by the vandals, and more cash will be required to boost its security.
You can donate to the Arts Barge here.
Niamh promotes events at the barge and other York venues via the Road Less Travelled.
