“There is a serious crisis in terms of studio space in the city”
Belfast City Council is to look at giving some of its space for use as artists’ studios, amidst what has been described as a crisis for artists in the city.
At the August meeting of the council’s City Growth and Regeneration Committee, councillors agreed a Green Party proposal for council officers to prepare a report looking into artists using space in the council estate as working studios.
The proposal was forwarded by Green Councillor Áine Groogan. She told the committee: “This is something I have had a number of discussions with artists about, across the city, and with (council) officers, over the last couple of months, and it should be on the agenda, for us to look into.
READ MORE: Stormont says it has no money to give Belfast Culture Night this year
READ MORE: New 164-bedroom hotel approved for junction of Donegall Pass and Botanic Avenue
“There is a serious crisis in terms of studio space in the city. It is something we have known about for quite a number of years now, and it has been highlighted in particular pinch points in the city, and after various fires and closures of buildings, when it has come to a head.
“But there is an ongoing crisis there, that our artists have been facing for years. When Array Collective won the Turner Prize, they were being evicted from a studio, that is the reality these artists are working in at the moment.”
She said: “Late Night Art (has) launched an exhibition from Neal and Jane called “Arts or Storage,” which has been funded by this council, in recognition of the issue.
“The (artists) are incredibly talented, they are bringing so much investment and creativity to this city, which makes Belfast unique in terms of the arts scene. It is thriving, but I would say it is thriving in spite of government support, rather than because of.
“But I will give credit where credit is due, in terms of where the council has stepped up over the last number of years, to really change our approach. We need that matched and married (with funds) from Stormont as well.”
She added: “It wouldn’t take an awful lot of effort, but a small way the council could further help the sector has come up a number of times in the last free years in this council, but we haven’t done it. And that is looking at our own estate.
“There is quite a lot of space in our own estate that we know is either unused or under-utilised, that could very easily be used for artists and creative studio space. (I am asking) for us to look at our estate, as is, do a bit of analysis in terms of what is actually there, and what could be used as studio space for the sector. To me it is a no-brainer.”
The Arts or Storage Instagram page states: “The title of this exhibition – the last to be held in Vault’s Marlborough House Gallery before we are forced to move once again – is taken from an estate agent’s brochure, which boasted of space that would be “suitable for arts or storage purposes”.
“The exhibition is a visual and written survey of the conditions that artists in Belfast work in, and a collaboration between Neal Campbell (photographer) and Jane Morrow (curator and writer).” The exhibition ended on August 11.
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
#Belfast #Council #space #artist #studios #crisis
