26
The Visual Artists’ News Sheet
July – August 2017
VAI ADVOCACY
Artists’ Workspaces
situation evidenced in the “closure of a significant number of longterm and highly successful artist spaces” between January 2014 and July 2015.3 The closure of Broadstone Studios, one of the city’s longest-running artist studios – which provided studio space for many of JOANNE LAWS PROVIDES A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF ISSUES FACING STUDIO PROVIDERS NATIONWIDE. Ireland’s most dynamic, determined and important contemporary artists for over 18 years – had a significant impact on the city’s visual arts infrastructure at the time. It caused many of Broadstone’s artists to rethink their studio requirements, with some establishing home studios and some securing workspaces in studio programmes in the city. Other studios that are still subject to the rental market include Ormond Studios – an artist-run space and platform for emerging visual artists in Dublin City (est. 2009; ormondstudios.wordpress. com). In November 2016, Ormond Studios was forced to vacate 6 Ormond Quay when the building was sold. Rental costs for similar properties in the area had spiralled, while many buildings tended to be poorly maintained. Fortunately, tenancy was secured at 4 Ormond Quay, but this involved higher rent for a smaller space, reducing studio membership from nine to eight artists, and downgrading the project space. Additional funding under the Arts Council’s Visual Artists’ Workspace Scheme enabled these necessary changes. On the plus side, the building is more secure and well kept, and Ormond Studios has maintained its central location. Sample-Studios is a not-for-profit centre for contemporary arts in Cork. Sample-Studios was recently forced to relocate from a central location in the old FAS building in Sullivan’s Quay to a new base in an industrial estate in Churchfield, Cork, several kilometres from the city centre, displacing approximately 100 artists. This is a major loss for the Cork region, where demand for studio space continues to rise, with Studio space at MART Fire Station, Rathmines, Dublin many fearing that it will put additional pressure on existing arts faciliIn Limerick, the arts office provide four artists’ studios in ties and studios like Backwater Artists Group and the National WORKING in consultation with studio providers, artists and local authorities around the country, this report offers updates on the cur- Cappamore Library and eight artist workspaces at James’ Street Sculpture Factory. However, public funding does not necessarily guarantee longevrent situation across urban and rural areas. These insights are by no Studios, as well as eight subsidised apartments in John’s Square for the means comprehensive, and build on the existing discourse and grass- exclusive use of artists. According to Limerick Arts Officer, Sheila ity for studios. For some studios, lack of secure tenancy has been exacroots advocacy work that has been developed over the last few years to Deegan, the purpose of the initiatives is to “support artistic vibrancy in erbated by reduced funding which has diminished considerably over defend artist workspaces.1 One significant issue to come out of the the local community and provide vital support to artists in developing the last few years. For example, Pallas Projects/Studios (est. 1996; studio crisis is a reluctance to speak out publicly about health and their career”, with the aim of “attracting and keeping artists living and pallasprojects.org) has operated studios in 14 premises across the city over the last 20 years, in order to stay one step ahead of the developers. safety issues in studios – such as building maintenance, fire safety, working in Limerick City”. Leitrim Sculpture Centre (LSC) in Manorhamilton offers a According to one of the directors, the organisation’s Arts Council fundovercrowding, outdated machinery and poor ventilation – for fear that it could lead to closure and further reduce the availability of studios. complex of 18 private and residency studios across three buildings ing has decreased by almost 70% since 2011, while long-term security However, not addressing these issues perpetuates a culture of misman- (est. 1997; leitrimsculpturecentre.ie). Factory Studios are located in the of tenure has still not been achieved and remains a primary goal. agement and an acceptance of hazardous working conditions for art- main LSC building and suit artists working in stone, wood, ceramics, ists. It is clear that this situation needs urgent further attention at hot glass, mould-making, metalwork, forge and foundry. In a signifi- GOVERNANCE & ADMINISTRATION management level. Above all, the provision of vital arts infrastructure cant new development, LSC recently had the opportunity to purchase Recent developments have shown that organisations benefit from needs to be central to the implementation of new policy frameworks the former Sheehan’s B&B (next door to Sheehan’s Studios), which will strong governance policies being in place, which protect both the provide additional studios and residency accommodation. LSC are in organisation and the artists. Management systems also need to be scalincluding Creative Ireland and Culture 2025. the process of trying to secure funding for the building’s renovation; able, depending on how many studios are provided at any given time. however, they are carrying out the first phase of the project with their Many of the studios who contributed to this article are in transition PUBLICLY-FUNDED STUDIOS In theory, government funding should go towards subsidising rents for own resources, enthusiasm and local good will. Meanwhile Fire where the management needs to go beyond a volunteer committee. As studio members, making low-cost studios more readily available. Station Artists’ Studios (est. 1993; firestation.ie) have recently invest- studios expand, there is often a threshold where, based on a growing Since 2013, MART Studios have expanded to become one of the most ed in innovative digital technology including 3D modelling. FSAS membership, it becomes necessary to appoint an administrator on a significant suppliers of independent workspaces in Dublin city for provides subsidised residential studios that offer self-contained, secure part-time or full-time basis. However, appointing a paid administrator visual artists, designers and other creative practitioners (mart.ie). accommodation and workspaces for professional visual artists. Access to manage the workspace and support members seems virtually MART currently maintains 80 studio spaces across eight buildings in to digital equipment, cameras and recording equipment is also avail- impossible without multi-annual funding or substantial increases to Rathmines, Portobello, Crumlin, Kilmainham and Blackpitts. In 2017 able at a reduced cost, as is use of the sculpture workshop and equip- studio rents. More and more evidence suggests that artists are working MART opened their largest single space: the MART Creative Hub in ment. FSAS champions the provision of creative workspaces in the part-time or full-time jobs outside of their studio practice, so can often Portobello Harbour. This former warehouse offers the space for studio context of a crisis that has seen a 50% reduction in artists’ workspaces be reluctant to take on the substantial commitments involved in studio administration. Many just want a workspace and no engagement members to work on much larger projects. MART also generates in Dublin’s inner city over the last two years. with a common goal. In the event that no one comes forward to underincome through gallery rental and by subletting spaces to commercial take these duties, studios can often close. DIMINISHING SPACE and non-commercial enterprises. In Galway, Engage Art Studios (est. 2004; engageartstudios.com) – who are situated on the top floor of the old Galway Pro-Cathedral – have recently opened a second studio space in Francis Street to accommodate an unprecedented number of membership applications. Other studio providers in Galway city include Artspace Studios (est. 1986; artspacegalway.com) – an artist-led collective that provides studios for 22 visual artists across 2 premises in Liosbán Industrial Estate and the Black Box theatre – and 126 Artist-Run Gallery (est. 2005; 126.ie) who relocated to more affordable premises in a residential area on the outskirts of the city in June 2016, and now provide studios for four professional artists on a long-term basis. The ongoing provision of studios is integral to the running of 126, because it generates approximately 50% of the annual rental costs for the building. Both Artspace and 126 stated that, given the rent increases and reduced funding in recent years, it has become increasingly difficult for them to provide studios at affordable rates.
A 2014 report on Limerick city’s visual art ecosystem, commissioned by the Limerick City of Culture, commented on the demise of Creative Limerick – an initiative set up by Limerick County Council’s Planning Department in 2009 to liaise with landlords of vacant commercial property – which had enabled the establishment of important visual arts infrastructure within the city, including Occupy Space, Raggle Taggle, Faber Studios and Ormston House. As stated in the report: “With the economy picking up, many expressed a worry that free or cheap spaces would become increasingly unavailable. The opening of Starbucks, where once there was Occupy Space, was seen as emblematic of this trend.”2 Published the following year, in November 2015, the Report on Artist Space Infrastructure in the City, by Dublin City Arts Officer Ray Yeates, outlined a similar crisis in the Dublin context. The report cites the “sustained growth in the Dublin property market” as having a “direct impact on the availability of affordable studios for artists” – a
SITE SPECIFICATIONS Occasionally, studio management is subject to special arrangements based on restrictions linked to particular locations, as is the case in Temple Bar, where Dublin City Council recently took over management of the area from the previous landlords, Temple Bar Cultural Trust. An association of 28 cultural institutions in Temple Bar is in the process of being formed and will hopefully have a lobbying role for the future development of the area. Independent Studios Ltd. consists of 10 purpose-built, self-contained studios in two buildings at 11 and 16 Eustace Street in Temple Bar (est. 1981; independentstudioartists. squarespace.com). In 1998 the limited company was established with a board of directors. Independent Studios is administrated on a voluntary basis by artist members and they seem to have a good and stable business model that suits them. It seems likely that funding will be sought for a part-time administrator to raise the profile of the studio