Setting up 18 studios, Long Eaton, Nottingham

I was going to let this blog die a natural death, but it seems HMS has generated a lot of interest. It’s not long since I returned from the studio providers conference at Spike Island, Bristol where I realised HMS is quite a unique set-up. It was depressing talking to a number of artists whose studios were at risk from disappearing because developers were moving in. Leases were coming to an end and studio groups are forced into premises with ever shorter leases – some less than it takes to do a body of work.

The last studio group in one city is struggling to survive in a damp, leaky building. Desperately looking for funding, they are in the unenviable position of having to prove ‘need’. As their building contravenes every health and safety regulation, they dare not advertise. They are not replacing artists who are leaving and so it becomes increasingly difficult to prove ‘need’. This is the LAST affordable studios in a major city. When I set-up HMS I was encouraged by the local arts council who were convinced artists would be drawn to affordable studios. Indeed this proved to be the case. But I am left wondering whether had I applied for more significant public funding, would I too, have been required to prove need.

Thank goodness the NFASP are on the case!
http://www.nfasp.org.uk/

Anyway, I will move on to our latest project – Allotments. Kat has done an amazing job. Details can be seen on http://www.standingroom.org/

The work for Allotments is by open submission on a first-come-first-served basis. Entirely unselected, I was expecting the entries to be pretty average. But most of the work is great, and it is like Christmas opening the packages. Work was submitted from all over the country including Newcastle, Stockport, Oxford, London as well as local residents.

Submission was also online and the artists chose their spaces – so the curation is quite random. However, it’s amazing how visual connections are already being made between the pieces. We haven’t finished hanging yet, but it promises tobe quite an exciting show. It will be previewed next Friday and I am v excited.

I have had a few difficult decisions to make which initially gave sleepless nights. One artist had to leave, but Jem is taking over the administration of the licenses and I think it will be easier being one-step removed.

Being on the Nottingham/Derbyshire border means we have feet in both camps. Our launch coincided with the Nottingham Contemporary Arts festival, but a Derbyshire wide festival takes place in May. The studio is split on whether we participate. From a personal perspective, it is too soon after the October one and I really haven’t got involved in my work yet . From previous experience, I realise it takes time before a new studio feels like a second skin and I haven’t achieved that oneness yet. However, I know this isn’t the same for everyone, and I would support those who want to take part. I think it would be good for the stuidos to be in the Derbyshire loop too.

'Beware of the artist' and 'Artists prohibited' – just some signs which I think the men in grey suits would like to pin on our door. Well thats what it felt like until last Wednesday when I took them round. The men, by the way, are board members of the Harrington Factory Company. Apparently they didn't know about our plans to create studios despite a letter to the managing director earlier this year. Politics. Anyway, they were reassured when they came round. We had considered fire risks etc and they had to admit it was better shape than some of the other companies. We gave them an invite to the open studios.

We have been working flat out for the Open but it is starting to pay off. We have painted most of the floor and walls. The kitchen units arrived last week. A BIG thank-you Sarah and her husband Joe. See the piccie. One of the units has been engraved – and as they are made of ply, you can see all the different layers of wood. Beautiful. Jess also presented the studio with a fridge, so no more sour milk. Thanks Jess :) This is all icing on the cake. From basic work spaces for messy artists we now have something much more.

We received funding from the Coop for a workshop and development of Standing Room. We are giving Justice for Carers a preview of the studios followed by a session with charcoal, clay and watercolours.

Kat has been working hard on Standing Room and the Allotment exhibition. Lori has developed the website so individual artists can log on and book spaces on the Standing Room website. This is v clever stuff which is way beyond me.

The Open is fast approaching, just hoping we have a good turn-out. I know we have some local newspaper coverage, so fingers-crossed.

The electricians have finally finished and handed over the certificate (and the bill). Well, not quite. We’ve decided the exhibition area needs more light. We can’t afford anything sophisticated, just bigger flourescents and doubles instead of single tubes. Sheila has created a stunning installation which will benefit from the upgrade. I also intend to start painting the floor next week, ready for the open studios.

Met the curators Jane Hardstaff and Jayne Falconer who were selected for the residency in October. They will be working with artists from HMS as well as others in the region. It’s v exciting because the whole thing is quite organic where curators and artists are not sure of the outcome. The whole process is being documented and uploaded onto the website

www.standingroom.org. Kat has worked hard to get this off the ground without any budget, just great determination. It’s been a steep learning curve for both of us.

I feel we’re on the last leg of setting up HMS, though it’s not a full-stop. The Open Studios, 26th – 28th October provide the deadline for sorting out all physical aspects such as the kitchen area, plumbing and the rest of the lighting. The plumber was supposed to turn up today ….

The invites are on the way – snail post takes up to 3 weeks but much cheaper. We have a few problems beacause a couple of artists had nominated their partners to provide live music at the PV. However, they have been offered paid gigs so they had to pull out – a shame but quite understandable. It might be a CD player – we’ll see. After all we’ve achieved it seem quite minor.

The fire officer recommended fire exit signs over the doors, the sort which are wired up to the electrics This is necessary if we are to use the studios at night. As the electricians are already here I asked for a price … the contingency pot is gradually eroding. Anyway, I can’t ignore it, so Stuart is sorting it out. No smoking signs, hand-held extinguishers, a fire blanket and instructions are also on the shopping list. Oh and some sort of bell – to raise the alarm.

The electrician has finally made a start. Some other good news: the partner of one of the artists runs a kitchen business and will install kitchen units. What generosity! I can’t believe our luck. We are currently using a wash hand basin – not ideal but better than nothing. An aunty is also donating a kitchen table. We just need a fridge and a microwave and we’ll be sorted.

I’ve had five meetings this week. Kat organised the first to sort out the residency for the Standing Room. We had some excellent proposals and I’m am delighted with the final choice. There will be a website linked to HMS dedicated to the Standing Room – with a forum to encourage critical debate about curating. A webcam will also capture live discussions between audience and curators. All exciting stuff, only achievable with the technical help of Lori, Simon and Joss.

Kat has also created an Allotment Show for Christmas. An ingenius idea where artists are invited to submit work by reserving a space on a grid via the web. On receiving a £10 admin fee, the space will be officially booked. The work (15 inches square) is then delivered, photographed for the web and placed in the selected space. The grid will include floor space for sculptural pieces as well as a wall grid for 2-d work. The intention is to tour it to 2 venues – one in Long Eaton as well as somewhere else in the borough. It makes work at HMS more accessible too!

Going back to the meetings, we also had a gathering to discuss the launch. We haven’t managed to sort out funding – I have to hold my hands up because I developed admin fatigue before my hols and I haven’t fully recovered. We will therefore opt for a simple marketing plan with postcard invites and some press-releases. We have some funding in for workshops thanks to others in the group.

Another meeting involved a school. Without being too personal I wasn’t impressed….

As for my own work – it’s going depressingly bad. I can’t blame the environment, the weather or the other artists. The return of artistic angst…