Yorkshire Artspace

Project Description

Located in the heart of Sheffield’s cultural quarter, the award winning Yorkshire Artspace provides quality affordable workspace for over 80 artists and craftspeople in the city. Established in 1977, Yorkshire Artspace offers a range of facilities including access to professional support and training and subsidised workspace for start up artists and craftspeople. The project is committed to nurturing new talent and has a two year development programme for new artists and crafts people.

There are currently two studio buildings, Persistence Works and the recently opened temporary Porter Brook Studios. A further two developments, Manor Oaks Studios and Knutton Road Studios, are due to open in 2010 and 2011 in partnership with local community based organisations.

Aims and Objectives

The need for quality visual arts workspace continues to grow. In 2007, Yorkshire Artspace was commissioned by Sheffield City Council to quantify demand for studio space in the city and to look at potential sites for studio developments in Housing Market Renewal Areas.

The study resulted in the development of the Manor Oaks site with Green Estate and the Knutton Road site with SOAR (Southey and Owlerton Area Regeneration) and only serves to reflect the success of Yorkshire Artspace as a leading studio provider in the region.

Project Start Date and End Date

1982 Yorkshire Artspace occupies Sydney Works in what becomes the Cultural Quarter
2001 Persistence Works opens
2009 Porter Brook Studios open in July
2010 Manor Oaks Studios planned to open in May
2011 Knutton Road Studios planned to open in January

Services Offered

Persistence Works and Porter Brooks Studios provide:

Over 80 studio spaces for artists and crafts people
Exhibition and project space
Administrative office
Outdoor work area
A meeting room

The studios offer professional support and development for artists and craftspeople including bespoke business courses, mentoring and access to exhibition/ commission and workshop opportunities.

It also offers a Starter Studio programme, specifically geared towards nurturing young talent. The programme includes the provision of equipment, a subsidised workspace in addition to business support and mentoring. The Starter Studio for Designer Silversmiths at Persistence Works is a unique two year programme which nurtures new silversmiths. There are plans for a Starter Studio programme for ceramicists at Manor Oaks Studios and a Starter Studio Programme for Artists Working in Community Engagement at Knutton Road Studios.

Yorkshire Artspace also serves the needs of the wider community hosting two Open Studio events a year, a free exhibition programme and a number of outreach programmes. The project space is open to the wider community.

Success Factors

Sheffield has the largest number of artists’ studios in England outside London (ACME Study). The feasibility study commissioned from Yorkshire Artspace by Sheffield City Council as part of the Creative Places initiative in Sheffield showed that demand exceeded supply and supported the development of the Knutton Road and Manor Oaks studios.

Other key success indicators include:

Awards and recognition - Designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley architects, Persistence Works is the UK’s first purpose built studio complex for artists and craftspeople. It has won the RIBA Award, a RIBA Yorkshire White Rose award, a Civic trust Commendation and was also a finalist for the Prime Ministers’ Better Buildings Awards in 2002.
Visual arts to engage the wider community - The opening of Persistence Works with its exhibition, meeting and project spaces has strengthened relations with the wider community, enabling the local people to enjoy the visual arts. Approximately 4,000 people visit Persistence Works each year.
Working in partnership - Much of the recent success of Yorkshire Artspace has been achieved by working with other agencies in the interest of the local community.

Business/Operational Model

Key partners include:

Yorkshire Artspace
Arts Council England
Sheffield City Council

Yorkshire Artspace is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee. In terms of management there are 8 members of staff and a Board of ten Directors. Yorkshire Artspace is a membership organisation and is owned by its members.

Financing and Delivery/Procurement

In order to finance the development of Persistence Works, Yorkshire Artspace successfully bid for:

£1.5 million from the European Regional Development Fund Objective 2
£137,000 in sponsorship and small awards including those from Landfill, Sheffield City Council and Sheffield Assay Office
£ 3.7 million of National Lottery funding through Arts Council England

Measurement and Monitoring

Yorkshire Artspace submits annual reports to the Arts Council on the following statistics:

Number of annual visitors
Income or occupancy rates
Number of works commissioned
Number of completed residencies
Number of exhibitions
Distribution of monthly newsletter
Number of artist members
Number of mentoring programmes and participants
Number of Education sessions
Characteristics of participants
Number of Professional training sessions

Future developments

The next phase for Yorkshire Artspace will be the completion of the two developments at Manor Oaks and Knutton Road - due to open in 2010 and 2011.

The Knutton Road development is based in the Parson Cross area of Sheffield. It will include 4,490 sq ft of studio space for 13 artists within its mix of offices and workshops for local start ups and small businesses. The building is anticipated to open in early 2011 and will be owned and managed by a local development agency (SOAR) with Yorkshire Artspace managing the artists’ studios.
The five purpose built studio spaces for 13 artists and makers on historic Manor Oaks estate in South Sheffield are part of Green Estate’s development of the site linking their commercial services with many other landscape, cultural and social initiatives.

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