SPACE: the story so far
Artspace Lifespace - the community interest company behind The Island - have been working in partnership with Trinity Community Arts and developing SPACE (sound-performance-art-community-engagement) on the ground floor of Arts West Side since April 2016.
Artspace Lifespace CIC recycles vacant, under-used and problem properties into thriving creative resources.
They work in partnership with artists, building owners, property developers, local communities and organisations to secure and re-cycle interesting, unusual and often difficult buildings as vibrant multi-use art spaces.
Their work transforms neighbourhoods and also brings something fresh and diverse to commercial centres. Making space accessible to a wide variety of creative influences serves to enrich and develop the multi cultural identity of any community.
The opportunity to work in partnership has been an invaluable one and a perfect example of how two Key Art Providers (LAP - 2015-2018) in the city can come together and work in together to develop a new project.
The aim of KAP is to give Bristol people access to high quality arts in the city and at the same time support the council’s own specific criteria: to contribute to work with young people; to promote better neighbourhoods and to promote equality of opportunity.
Artspace Lifespace CIC The Island’s main vision when submitting our proposal for SPACE was to create a welcoming and open space for the local community and support creativity in Bristol with a new hub where they can showcase work and share ideas.
Since 8th April 2016 when we launched SPACE on the ground floor of Arts West Side, we've hosted 12 art show and 1 artist residency. We've worked with 6 local community groups, engaged 10 volunteers and hosted one 1 University placement. We've delivered workshops and facilitated community discussion groups, plus we have a full programme of events planned for the coming season.
The response and interest from the local community and the wider creative community in Bristol and beyond we had since we've launched the partnership project has been overwhelming.
The Island have so far invested a fair amount of capital and time to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for the public-facing space, on the ground floor of Arts West Side. Dina, Project Manager for SPACE said;
"We have enjoyed every minute of working with the local community and the way the local community has embraced the project allows me to believe that the feeling has been mutual.
An initiative such as SPACE created from the work of two community arts organisations with limited resources, shows that the city can grow in important ways without always relying on large capital expenditures or a major construction.
A strong community place-based project can encourage the emergence of a new space for participation, diversity, and experimentation in the arts and community engagement in Bristol and help build resilient communities where they are most needed."
Show your support via the Save SPACE campaign.