Premises
Established in Sheffield in 1977 by a group of art graduates from the Psalter Lane College, we were one of the first studio groups to be established outside London where the studio movement had begun in the late sixties, using disused industrial properties such as St Katharine's Dock and the Wapping warehouses.
Since its inception Yorkshire Artspace has rented a number of old industrial properties including Sydney Works from 1982 to 2001, a former cutlery factory on Matilda Street. As the first cultural organisation to move to this area of the city centre, Yorkshire Artspace was very much the pioneer of what is now the Cultural Industries Quarter.
Our 1996 Business Plan highlighted the risks associated with poor quality rented accommodation in an area of rapid development and the need for more studio space to meet the demand from the membership. From this plan the concept of Persistence Works grew and, with the benefit of paid staff, a Board offering a wide variety of professional skills, a supportive Regional Arts Council and rich funding opportunities, the first purpose built studio complex for artists and craftspeople was opened in November 2001. With 53 studio spaces and immediate full occupancy, Persistence Works is a model successful Lottery project and the building has won many national awards.
More information on the Persistence Works project can be found at
http://www.fcbstudios.com/project.asp?extra=&p=982&s=2
With demand for studios far outstripping supply at Persistence Works, a temporary studio space, Porter Brook Studios, was opened next door in July 2009 offering a further 15 spaces for a minimum of two years. Yorkshire Artspace is now working towards the development of two new studio complexes outside of the city centre, Manor Oaks Studios due to open June 2010 and Knutton Road Studios in Parson Cross, due to open in Spring 2011. These are long term projects, integrated with key neighbourhood development schemes and resulting from partnerships with the local authority, development agencies and community organisations in these areas.
Funders and supporters
