THE Arts Barge Project in York has its eye on a Selby Barge for its new home on the River Ouse.

“It’s lying at Waddingtons Boat Yard, a boat builder’s yard in Swinton,” said the project’s artistic director, Christian Topman.

“The boat is being surveyed this month and if it’s sound, as expected, we would hope to get it to dry dock to have any hull work required before bringing to the Foss Basin for renovation and refit.”

The first boat that the project surveyed – which shall remain nameless – turned out to be a “turkey”, in Christian’s words.

“As we need the barge for community use, it has to be solid, but that boat was beneath the minimum width in many places. It would have needed mending at enormous cost, which wouldn’t have been cost-effective for us.

“The latest one we’ve found is bigger and is likely to be more solid as it was a grain or coal barge that’s tough wearing and designed to carry heavy weights.”

The Arts Barge Project has so far raised more than £25,000 towards the cost from events, crowd funding and donations.

This will complement City of York Council’s Economic Infrastructure Funding of £100,000, which will be paid in instalments.

“This will be released at key points during the development of the project and there’ll be no ongoing revenue support from the council,” said Christian.

“The project is now working with local business to raise the remaining money required and our plan is to open the Arts Barge venue in Spring 2014.” Each year, from May to December, the Arts Barge Project aims to produce and inspire collaborative arts projects, with the York Festival of Rivers in July as the focus of activity.

The project is seeking to develop community arts activity and networks by forming and building partnerships with other community and arts organisations in York and in turn raising the profile of the project.

“We’ll make use of the empty historic Guildhall and create a cultural focus at Skeldergate landing – the planned future home of the Arts Barge – as well as running guided tours to the barge construction and refit in progress at Foss Basin,” said Christian.

“Events will also take place in pubs and partnership venues, both at the time of the Festival of Rivers and across the eight-month project span.”