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getting a studio
Things to consider when looking for a studio space.
one of the key questions to consider when getting a studio is can you actually
afford it? The next is how much time will you have to spend in it?
Having a studio is not just about having a space to work in. Studio
groups come in all shapes and sizes, and it is important to make an
informed decision about the right place for you, based on what they
offer, but also what they expect from you.
Some studios are just about the provision of space; others are more
about a community of artists working together and supporting each
other. You may be required to take part in a yearly exhibition or open
studio event, and some spaces have strict rules about how often you
use your space, to avoid absentee studio holders.
If you decide that you do need a studio, find out what’s in your area
and then go and visit. Find out what the deal is, but think carefully
about what you are looking for, and what you can afford.
residencies
residencies can give artists time to focus and develop their practice alongside
space for personal creative exploration and experimentation. They can take
place in studios, galleries, specialist centres or any number of non art locations.
The
awards four MA and BA graduates a studio space
for an eight month residency, enabling them to work alongside
their contemporaries and the more established artists showing in
the gallery.
“It’s challenging working live in a space that proffers an immediate
audience”, says
who undertook a residency at
Muse Gallery in 2013. “And it’s challenging feeling you’ve got
enough actually done in a day when you know how important it is
to also engage with visitors.”
open Plan is a collective led by London-based MA students.
’ blog followed her open Plan Micro-residency in
a newly refurbished office space in central London.
“The space has to be kept ‘pristine’ – no drilling or nailing, taking
up floors or mess. These rules might appear as limitations yet I
see it as a productive measure: good for making and showing
sculpture, video, performative work or to develop existing ideas in
the context.”
Find out more about UK and International residencies
AirSpace Gallery studio members area,
Stoke-on-Trent.