The value of artists’ studios at the heart of our towns and communities is being increasingly recognised. From Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle, to Brighton and Hove, from Gateshead to Essex, local authority strategies are being evolved to support affordable artists’ workspace alongside other cultural infrastructure and a growing number of projects are resulting from these plans.
Exciting new models for developing new and more sustainable artists’ studios are emerging which demonstrate how, within mixed-use schemes, cross-subsidy and planning gain (s 106) can be exploited to achieve affordable workspace through partnerships with housing associations, private developers and in vacant temporary space.
NFASP is the professional membership body established to support and represent the interests of all those in the UK with an interest in providing affordable studio space for artists. The Federation is revenue funded by Arts Council England and is increasingly recognised as the lead body representing the affordable studios sector.
NFASP provides:
• Support and advice on setting up and running studio spaces, through a mix of case studies and guidance notes, peer support, tailored workshops and one-to-one advice from a range of experienced professionals
• Networking and sharing experience among studio groups and with other agencies at conferences, events and regional forums throughout the UK
• Campaigning on behalf of the sector to raise awareness and represent studio providers at government level, and acting as a catalyst to create innovative ways of developing affordable studio space
Who can join?
• Not-for-profit studio groups and organisations providing affordable workspace for artists, including new and well-established ones and artists’ groups planning to develop studios
• Organisations and artists’ groups running shared visual arts production facilities including sculpture and print workshops and regular residency and project spaces
• Individuals – artists, consultants – anyone involved in the sector
• Local authorities, regeneration agencies, housing associations, arts organisations and others with an interest in developing affordable studios
Further information
Visit www.nfasp.org.uk for further information on our work and to find out about current membership fees and benefits. For further enquiries and to obtain information and forms in other formats contact NFASP: Tel: 0207 426 0067, E: ask@nfasp.org.uk
NFASP, Unit 5, Toynbee Studios, 28 Commercial Street, London E1 6AB