6 - 10

Plan 9

about: 

Plan 9 was an contemporary art initiative run by artists, curators and writers between 2005 to 2010.

Plan 9 members have included Chris Barr, Kayle Brandon, Rachel Butcher, Rob Chavasse, Nim-Jo Chung, Julian Claxton, Rachel Connelly, Karen Di Franco, Anton Goldenstein, Mark Harris, Toby Huddlestone, Tom Johnson, Ali Jones, John Lawrence, Julie MacCalden, Natasha MacVoy, Sophie Mellor, Anouk Mercier, Sarah Tulloch, Lucie Red and Zoe Williams.

History

Plan 9 was established in 2004 by Sophie Mellor and Julian Claxton, with Toby Huddlestone joining in March 2005. Taking advantage of the redevelopment of Bristol's city centre, Plan 9's first site was in an empty shop unit in Broadmead - the city's shopping precinct. With the support of Bristol City Council, Broadmead Alliance and the estate agents Hartnell, Taylor and Cook, Plan 9 secured the unit for a period of one year, rent free.

Plan 9's programme was formulated to support the careers of emerging artists and curators, with four main exhibitions curated by Plan 9 (Industry & Idleness, Gatsobyter, Generation Games and BRSLAXVAA). An open call was also sent out nationally, which resulted in another five exhibitions/events being curated/organised by artists and curators outside Plan 9.

In 2006, Plan 9 organised 'Wig Wam Bam!' as part of the British Art Show 6 in Bristol. Interested in working within a building already open to the public, Plan 9 formed a partnership with The Red Lodge, an Elizabethan house run the Bristol City Council Museums and Art Galleries as an example of a period home. The Red Lodge is owned (and leased to the city council) by The Bristol Savages, an all male artists' group started in 1904 and modeled along the lines of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. They still hold weekly meetings and an annual exhibition in the 'Wig Wam' - and outbuilding in the grounds of The Red Lodge.

Plan 9 invited British Art Show 6 artists Claire Barclay and Marcus Coates, and the president of the Bristol Savages, Geoff Molyneux to form the selection panel for 'Wig Wam Bam!'. Fourteen Bristol based artists were selected on the basis of both proposals for new work in relation to the site and existing work. Claire Barclay and Marcus Coates also attended a series of studio visits with the selected artists, furthering the links between the British Art Show 6 and providing an opportunity for discussion around the proposed work and the site.

At the end of 2006, Plan 9 invited Karen Di Franco to join the core group. In 2007, Plan 9 expanded the group inviting Chris Barr, Kayle Brandon, Nim-Jo Chung, Rachel Connelly, Anton Goldenstein, Julie McCalden, Tom Johnson, Ali Jones, John Lawrence and Sarah Tulloch to join. Taking on a unit at the back of Spike Island - Plan 9 presented one event (All our Worst Work) and two exhibitions (Utstallruum, and, Martin Kippenburger with fries and a shake) curated by Plan 9 members.

In 2008, working with Bristol City Council, Artspace Lifespace and Urban Splash, Plan 9 took on new premises - a former police station in Bristol's city centre, Bridewell Island - creating a gallery, project space and studios. In 2008/09 Plan 9's membership changed around again and comprised of Chris Barr, Rachel Butcher, Rob Chavasse, Nim-Jo Chung, Karen Di Franco, Anton Goldenstein, Mark Harris, Toby Huddlestone, Tom Johnson, Ali Jones, Natasha MacVoy, Sophie Mellor, Anouk Mercier, Lucie Red and Zoe Williams. During 2008 and 2009, Plan 9 ran a programme of exhibitions, events and international residencies initiated by Plan 9 members.

In November 2009, Plan 9 moved out of Bridewell Island and ceased its activities.

how is/was it run/structured ?: 

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  • unincorporated organisation

how is/was it funded ?: 

address: 

The Old Police Station, Bridewell Island
Nelson St
BS1 2LE Bristol 51° 27' 23.8068" N, 2° 35' 32.6112" W
GB

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previous usage of the site: 

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types of studios: 

  • open plan, private

established: 

2005

vacated: 

2010

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AirSpace Gallery

about: 

AirSpace Gallery is a collaborative, artist led project in Stoke-on-Trent, providing professional development opportunities, studio and exhibiting space and support for artists. Through a dynamic and evolving programme of exhibitions, events and activities AirSpace Gallery brings critical, high quality contemporary art to the region and provides opportunities for a broad range of artists.

AirSpace Gallery was formed in 2006 by two Staffordshire University fine art undergraduates, David Bethell and Andrew Branscombe. At this point there was no contemporary visual arts provision in Stoke-on-Trent. Since then AirSpace Gallery has remained artist-led and has been programming high quality visual arts activity for and from established and emerging, national and international artists, consisting of exhibitions, residencies and public realm works ,alongside a committed approach to professional artist development.

As an artist-led space, the Gallery's current research interests mirror those of its directors and is particularly concerned with issues surrounding collaboration and partnership working and a relational relevance with its location and the socio-political landscape.

AirSpace has an ongoing series of projects, which are developed through a mixture of open calls and invitation. This makes for an exciting and vibrant mix of exhibitions, residencies, projects, artist development events and public realm works.

AirSpace Gallery has always been and remains committed to Paying Artists.

how is/was it run/structured ?: 

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  • unincorporated organisation

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history of the site: 

Built originally as the headquarters of the City's Gas Board in 1874, 4 Broad Street has subsequently, variously, been a bank, a building society,a tax office, a mission of catholic wives suffering domestic abuse and a pensioner's charity.

address: 

AirSpace Gallery
4 Broad street
ST1 4HL Stoke-on-Trent 53° 1' 24.9816" N, 2° 10' 42.2436" W
GB

usage: 

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  • private

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established: 

2006

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Limbo

about: 

Limbo is an artist-led organisation based at the former electrical substation off Margate's High Street.

Limbo was set-up to create a resource supporting cultural development and experimentation in Thanet and beyond; providing affordable artist studios a gallery/project space and a programme of exhibitions, artist residencies, events and off-site projects.

Through its projects Limbo aims to create new points of reference or entry, through which challenging and unfamiliar ideas and methodologies can be experienced and discussed.

The project space at the Substation is the focal point for Limbo’s exhibition programme. It appears to be in transition: gallery lighting and whitened walls contrast with the imposing industrial structure of the room, where the transformers, rectifiers and switchgear once stood. Limbo takes inspiration from this aesthetic, aiming to bring different histories and practices together in one place.

how is/was it run/structured ?: 

what is/was it's legal status ?: 

  • community interest company

how is/was it funded ?: 

history of the site: 

The Substation is centrally located in Margate, just off the High Street and a two-minute walk from the harbour. Margate is on the North East coast of Kent and just a two-hour ferry ride from France.

The building dates back to 1849, when it was apparently erected and functioning as coach house, stables, wash house and storehouse for Thomson and Son Brewers. In 1902 the property was sold for a mere £1,598.2s.9d to the Isle of Thanet Electric Tramways and Lighting Company and became part of a significant social and economic change, providing communication in the form of light, power and traction. High voltage alternating current from the generating station at nearby St Peters was passed through a series of step-down transformers and finally converted to DC using mercury arc rectifiers. This direct current was used to power an extended tramline and to provide lighting and domestic electricity for parts of Margate.

Use of DC for domestic consumers was unusual and potentially dangerous, but this spare capacity brought early access to electric power to the population of Margate. During the night the generators were shut down and a massive bank of batteries with “265 Tudor Cells” provided power for the early morning and late night trams, as well as for domestic lighting (the generators at St Peters were also shut down overnight). This arrangement lasted into the 1920s when demand for domestic and industrial power at night became too great. When the tramlines were finally closed down in the late 1930s the Substation continued to provide DC power to Dreamland amusement park until it converted to AC in the 1970s.

The substation equipment now sits outside at the front of the building in the space previously occupied by a lean-to veranda.

address: 

Substation Project Space
2 Bilton Square High Street
CT9 1EE Margate 51° 23' 19.6476" N, 1° 22' 51.1932" E
GB

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types of studios: 

  • private

established: 

2006

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Crate

Crate Space, Margate

about: 

Crate is an artist-led organisation based in East Kent supporting contemporary visual artists’ research and practice. Crate promotes critical debate and the exchange of ideas without prescribed outcomes.
Based in an old print works near the sea front in Margate, Crate’s building has been bought and refurbished with major support from Arts Council England South East, East Kent Partnership and Thanet District Council. The building opened in July 2006.

The building combines working and project space and is designed to give artists access to dedicated, affordable space for experimentation, production, documentation and research. There are three floors of studios, and two project spaces on the ground floor. The project spaces are available for short-term use by practitioners, alongside a programme initiated by Crate.

how is/was it run/structured ?: 

what is/was it's legal status ?: 

  • charity

how is/was it funded ?: 

history of the site: 

Print Works

address: 

1 Bilton Square
CT9 1EE Margate 51° 23' 17.7072" N, 1° 22' 50.412" E
GB

total size in sqm/sqft: 

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types of studios: 

  • open plan

established: 

2006

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Grand Union

about: 

Grand Union is a gallery and studios located in Digbeth, Birmingham’s cultural quarter.

We support the development of artists and curators through the provision of high quality workspaces and an ambitious programme of free exhibitions, talks and events.

Run by a small group of artists and curators, Grand Union is part of a growing artistic community with the production of new art and ideas at its heart.

Founders:
Helen Brown, Ian England, Joanna Essen, Mark Essen, Reuben Henry, Cheryl Jones, Harminder Judge, Karin Kihlberg, Feng-Ru Lee, Charlie Levine,
Alexandra Lockett, David Miller, David Thomas, Matt Westbrook, Stuart Whipps

how is/was it run/structured ?: 

what is/was it's legal status ?: 

  • community interest company

how is/was it funded ?: 

address: 

Minerva Works
158 Fazeley St
B5 5RS Birmingham 52° 28' 44.7456" N, 1° 52' 58.5516" W
GB

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types of studios: 

  • private

established: 

2010

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Meter Room

about: 

Founded in February 2011, Meter Room is a not-for-profit artist-run organisation located in ‘void’ City Council offices in the centre of Coventry.

Meter Room comprises of a 1400 square feet project space and 7 adjoining low-cost artist studios that are centrally located, secure, and provide 24 hour access.

Meter Room is dedicated to supporting the creation of new experimental work by artists and curators through a series of residencies and projects that respond to its function as a site of art production and dissemination.

how is/was it run/structured ?: 

what is/was it's legal status ?: 

  • other

how is/was it funded ?: 

address: 

58-64 Corporation Street
CV11GF Coventry 52° 24' 34.7004" N, 1° 30' 47.2068" W
GB

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types of studios: 

  • private

established: 

2011

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