A social entrepreneur has drummed up over £35,000 for a new arts and learning centre.

Leon Patel’s company Bangdrum, which runs music and dance workshops in schools, is one of five partner organisations that have stumped up their own cash for the desperately needed centre in Mossley, Tameside.

Leon, who also runs carnival arts charity Global Grooves, said: “While the government has been making unfair cuts - squeezing arts, culture and creative learning to almost extinction - we have been thinking hard about how we can reinvest our skills and expertise to help feed creativity within our local community.

“Tameside has long enjoyed a vibrant arts and cultural scene and we hope that the new centre will become a focal point.

“Our mission is to help to plug the hole in budgets and hopefully encourage young and old alike to join together, be creative, learn new skills and have fun.

The new arts and learning centre is due to open in Vale Mill, Micklehurst Road, Mossley in summer 2015.

Boasting something for everyone, facilities will include an independent cinema, performance space and a digital learning suite.

The new cultural hub will also feature arts, crafts and making facilities, a large artists’ studio, exhibition space, music making activities and a meeting space.

Local creatives and entrepreneurs will be invited to try out the new centre’s hot-desking provision, which offers opportunities for ad hoc networking.

Ahead of the summer launch, a series of trailblazer events begins in February with an environmentally themed digital art installation. Chamada From Chico Mendes by Kulji ‘Kooj’ Chuhan has been described as interactive digital art meets Afro-Brazilian carnival. It is inspired by the life and work of murdered Brazilian activist Chico Mendes. Chamada means ‘a call to all’ in his native Portuguese.

Other trailblazers include film screenings, a free creative computing course and a world music ensemble for young people Leon added: “We are now keen to make connections with other local creative, community and third sector organisations to see how we can work together.

“We also still need to raise a further £10,000 to ensure the arts and learning centre can open this summer”.

Anyone wanting to find out more, discover volunteering opportunities or offer support in any other way can contact leon@globalgrooves.org