The Temporary Use of Empty Space as Artists' Studios
NFASP Advocacy:
NFASP encourages the use of temporary space for affordable artists’ studios, especially where it paves the way for a longer-term strategy for integrating artists into a development, regeneration scheme, or town centre, and where the presence of artists underpins and contributes to local strategies and arts development.
NFASP particularly recognises the benefit for early career artists to establish themselves in these spaces without making a major financial or time commitment.
This year, the NFASP produced the Guidance Notes on the use of temporary spaces as artists' studios: the notes are for artists, local authorities, property owners, developers - anyone with an interest in how an empty property can be used as affordable artists’ workspace. It considers the benefits of these schemes and some of the steps necessary in setting up studios in empty shops and other vacant property. Examples of good practice are provided, as are links to useful documents and further reading.
NFASP also produced a case study report on the temporary establishment of studios for early career artists in Wandsworth, south London. Click here to read the Wandsworth Arts Village case study.
Read more from the NFASP on Temporary Workspace (May 2009)
Government Funding Programmes:
The Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) announced a £3m empty shop revival funding programme in August 09 – after the government's Looking After Our Town Centres initiative. Read more on the NFASP site.
Or go to the DCLG page, where you can also read the Looking After Our Town Centres guide for local authorities:
In December, CLG announced a further £2.6m 'Christmas Bonus' to 50 more high streets to transform empty shops - read more here.
Special lease templates called 'meanwhile use leases' have now been launched with CLG, in line with the Meanwhile Project (see below). These are
designed to make it easier for local groups to temporarily use a vacant
property rent free for a non-commercial purpose while the landlord
seeks a permanent new business. Three versions of temporary use leases
have been created, which can be used by landlords; they are available
free of charge at the CLG website at: www.communities.gov.uk/citiesandregions/propertyissues/businesstenanciesguidance/meanwhileusespecimen
Housing and Planning Minister John Healey has also given councils special waivers to allow changes to large developments and town centres without needing planning permission. Local Development Orders (LDOs) makes it easier for developers and councils to find new uses for empty shops on the high street.
Arts Council of England (ACE) supported the empty shops initiative with a £500,000 funding programme - Art in Empty Spaces - launched in August to help artists and arts groups carry out artistic activities in vacant spaces. Read more here.
You can also read more on the Arts Council England (ACE) website, with further case studies and links.
Meanwhile Project and the Empty Shops Network:
Following the launch of Looking After Our Town Centres in April 2009, the Meanwhile Project was established, led by the Development Trusts Association (DTA) with project support and the setting up of a Meanwhile Lease. For more info: www.meanwhile.org.uk/
You can also join Meanwhile’s Ning forum at: http://meanwhilespace.ning.com/, where members can post news or get advice on funding opportunities, such as the Social Enterprise London (SEL) initiative.
The Meanwhile Project also made its first award to art and design projects in Margate using empty retail space this summer: read more here.
The Meanwhile Project announced further grants of up to £25,000 for community projects in March 2010 and relaunched its website: read more here.
Together with the Empty Shops Network, founded by Dan Thompson, the Meanwhile Project has published its first manual: Empty Shops Workbook - Meanwhile Manual Number 1. You can download the manual and find out more about the Empty Shops Network on: http://artistsandmakers.com/emptyshops. Here you can also access a list of temporary arts events in empty shops around the country, as well as current projects and opportunities to get involved. In March, 2010, artists from the Empty Shops Network is touring the UK to help artists use empty shops: find out more at: www.artistsandmakers.com.
The Empty Shops Network forum is also at: www.moblog.net/emptyshopsnetwork.
Other Useful Links:
The Architecture Centre Network talk in London on 31 March was on the temporary use of vacant buildings and spaces by artists and architects. Read more here
The Ethical Property Foundation advises charities and community groups on property issues and runs a Blog, which includes advice on the use of meanwhile space by non-profit groups: www.ethicalproperty.org.uk/blogs.aspx
The Living Places partnership programme was set up to ensure that culture and sport are embedded in regeneration strategies, and has developed its Cultural Planning Toolkit. It has also made successful bids to the government's Transformation Fund for the use of temporary space (see POP Blackburn below). Go to: www.living-places.org.uk.
The Asset Transfer Unit (ATU) helps to empower local people and organisations to transform land and buildings into vibrant community spaces. They provide advice, guidance and support concerning the transfer of under-used land and buildings from the public sector to community ownership and management. The ATU website has a useful project planning tool: go to: www.atu.org.uk/Support/AssetMap)
The Creative Industries Toolkit is a new web resource to help local authorities invest in creative industries: read more here.
The Sea Change programme has aimed to drive regeneration and economic growth
in seaside resorts by funding inspiring, creative and innovative
projects. The DCMS allocated £45m (£15m per year over 2008-2011). For more info: www.cabe.org.uk/sea-change
Read here for good practice examples and case studies of the use of temporary space for artists' studios and creative workspace or projects. Please tell us of any projects you are involved in and we can include them here:
POP - Project Our Place: Arts in the
Heart of Blackburn An empty shop in Blackburn town centre has been converted into the base
for a six-week creative hub by local artists' studios and Darwen Borough Council, and with help from the Museums and Libraries Archive Council (MLA) and Living Places (the Transformation Fund).
Read more here
Gateshead Starter for Ten: twelve creative businesses, including visual artists, have been given temporary use rent-free of The Shed, a former abandoned building, as part of a pilot scheme by Gateshead Council and designer Wayne Heminghway: read more here.
New Start magazine – recently focused on the inspiring use of empty space as gallery and bursary workspace by Coventry Arts Space: read more here.
The
Market Estate Project - www.marketestateproject.com - is an artists' project in a 1960s’
soon-to-be demolished housing estate in north London. The empty buildings on the estate have been taken over by artists until the
bulldozers arrive in February 2010.
The Meanwhile Project has launched a project showcase: projects entered can win a £1000. Go to: www.meanwhile.org.uk
For more case studies and opportunities, go to: www.artistsandmakers.com/emptyshops