Call for comments and interest: by Fiona Lee, Sally Rees & Bec Stevens

Hobart Artists Studio Discussion Paper

CALL FOR DISCUSSION: COLLECTIVE STUDIO SPACES FOR HOBART ARTISTS.

There is a critical need for a communal studio space suitable for contemporary visual artists working in the city of Hobart. We are requesting assistance from interested government and non-government organizations, individuals or businesses in identifying a suitable building (which could be empty and/or earmarked for development in the future) that can house a cluster of subsidised studio spaces based on successful models that exist nationally and internationally. (as outlined below)

Professional visual artists working in a genuinely contemporary framework contribute extensively to the critical debate surrounding contemporary culture. This dialogue is a crucial factor in the development of the cultural identity of a place and its community. It is also valuable in itself for the benefit and stimulation of the large community of artists who live and work in Hobart, and this activity contributes to the generation of positive links with both national and international art arenas.

Younger artists and recent graduates from the School of Art are finding it increasingly difficult to locate suitable, affordable space from which to establish a viable professional arts practice. Existing studio spaces in Hobart, such as the Salamanca Arts Centre, are highly problematic as they are expensive or are housed in heritage or restrictive buildings, which simply cannot accommodate many of the activities and materials used in contemporary practice. Many artists now maintain long hours in secondary jobs outside the arts sector, in order to cover high rental expenses on often small, inadequate studio spaces where they work in isolation.

Outlined below is a brief breakdown of the role of the former Hobart-based collective, Letitia St Studios (LSS), and other collective studio models:

LSS fostered the early career of many of Tasmania's most collectable and income-generating contemporary artists (Richard Wastell, Neil Haddon, Matt Calvert, Simon Cuthbert, Colin Langridge, Meg Keating, etc). The enterprise was more than merely a functional space at affordable rents. After operating for only a short time, Letitia Street was on the agenda of visiting interstate art professionals (curators, art dealers and arts writers) and thus had high level promotional value. With its demise we lost a vibrant hive of activity with a national and international focus.

The loss of the privately owned facility combined with the prohibitive cost of current commercial leases has forced artists to work in make-do spaces in their homes. Critically, the demise of the collective studio caused the loss of collegial support; an important network that encouraged artists to assist each other with the development of their work and their careers, it also established a strong studio brand, which was highly valuable for each of the individual artists.
LSS proved unequivocally that artists can self-manage a collective facility. Artists are also flexible and can make good advantage from a range of building types.

CAST and Dick Bett Gallery both evolved from Chameleon artist run studios; Criterion Gallery and Inflight artist-run initiative both grew out of LSS. Vanguard art practice should be nurtured and supported. It does contribute to the cultural fabric of any city.

There are numerous other studio models that exist nationally and internationally:

Parramatta Artists Studios offer affordable non-residential/residential studio and exhibition space to emerging and established contemporary artists, craft practitioners and creative industry professionals. Parramatta Artists Studios is an Initiative of Parramatta City Council supported by the NSW Government through Arts NSW. www.parracity.nsw.gov.au/culture__and__leisure/arts

Gertrude Contemporary Art Spaces in Melbourne encompasses 16 large, subsidised, non-residential studios which are available to emerging artists for periods of two years. They range in size from 32 to 65 square metres and have 24 hour access.
www.gertrude.org.au/

The Glasgow and Edinburgh Sculpture Workshops, the Stills Photographic and Edinburgh Printmaking Workshops were all established and operate similarly: the building infrastructure is provided by the local councils while other funding support is provided by the Scottish Arts Council. They are locally driven but global in outlook and have become a vital link for international arts activity.

Artist studio spaces do not need to be located in high profile buildings or locations. They need to be accessible, secure and, most importantly, affordable.

The requirements needed would be:

• large to medium size building to house 10 - 15 artists; circa 500 - 750 m2;

• variable/flexible spaces - which could include office space or warehouse space that could be divided and suitable for activities ranging from semi-industrial to dust free editing suites, with some wet areas and good ground floor access;

• ideally available for 5 years or longer

Hobart is about to experience a major philanthropic boost in the contemporary visual arts sector through large scale philanthropic initiatives which promise to attract both high level attention and professional arts visitation to the island. It would be a visionary action to build upon the opportunity and momentum and assist younger Tasmanian artists in this changing cultural environment.

In summary, this initiative would provide much needed support to individual artists who have chosen a career that is inherently difficult to establish. An affordable and well-run studio facility will encourage a strong group dynamic that would provide valuable peer evaluation and guidance and assist artists to create work with the potential to capture the imagination and engage audiences not only in the broader Tasmanian community, but interstate and overseas.

We strongly urge you to consider the potential of providing a council owned building for these purposes. A list of concerned artists and referees can be made available upon request to help facilitate further discussion of this initiative.

Many thanks,

Fiona Lee BFA (Hons.) MFA - flee8@bigpond.com

Sally Rees BFA (Hons.) MFA - sally@vkool.com

Rebecca Stevens BFA (Hons.) - bec_stevens2010@yahoo.com.au