Bristol arts space fundraising for future
Jamaica Street Studios in Stokes Croft is at risk of closure
Last updated 9th May 2024
An arts space in Bristol is asking for help from the public to ensure it can stay open into the future.
Jamaica Street Studios in Stokes Croft has existed for more than 30 years offering artists an affordable place to create and exhibit their work.
However, the current owners are now looking to sell the building, so the artists are fundraising to bring it into community ownership.
Studio manager Rosie Bowery said: "Jamaica Street Studios is home to over 25 artists here.
"We're an artist led organisation which means the artists are the decision makers...and that's quite a unique situation. There are all sorts of artists here. There are painters, sculptures, illustrators, film makers, photographers and the diversity of practices is really wonderful."
The artist's have already been promised £500,400 by the government's Community Ownership Fund to help pay for the building, but in order to gain access to that money they must raise a further amount themselves, including £85,000 through a crowdfunder.
To encourage donations various rewards are being offered including a pin badge for an £8 donation or an outdoor painting tutorial for £25 on the smaller end of the scale.
If your pockets are deeper, £1,000 would get you an hour snooker lesson with six time world champion Steve Davis who's wife uses the studios, while £10,000 would get the bar inside named after you.
"It's really important that we have studios and creative spaces in the centre of the city, it's what makes up the character of Bristol (and) makes it unlike other cities in the country."
Tom Morris, who is an artist who uses the studio said: "Personally it would be awful (if the studios closed).
"I've made a lot of friends here, it's been a really important part of my practice, I've developed a really big set of friends and a support network here and if that went, it would definitely have an impact on my practice...
"It would be a massive loss and it would also be a really sad loss for people I know who would hopefully be as lucky as me in the future and be offered a workplace like this."
The artists must raise the money in the next year, otherwise the building will be placed for sale on the open market.
If the site is saved, there are plans to host more exhibitions, workshops and music inside.
If you want to find out more about the fundraising campaign, you can do so here.