Studio Space Tender

Art at the Centre will tender for advice from an experienced artists’ space provider to scope the project and advise on the specification for the modification of Shipping Containers supplied by the Docks as support in kind, following the model of Urban Space Management’s ‘Container City’ at Trinity Buoy Wharf. An open tender will procure the renovation of the containers to studio standards, with specifications established for the renovation through consultation with established space-providers. The donation of freight containers from the Dockyard in Sheerness has been negotiated. Whilst the containers would need to be modified to provide adequate studio facilities, this would be a low-cost one off outlay, with minimal on-going running costs.

The project aims to support artists to facilitate their collective presence, with a view to retaining the creative practitioners who ‘migrate’ to the capital, and thus developing the growing creative community in Swale. Studios/workspaces will extend the opportunities for local artists, to encourage new creative individuals and organisations to move to the Borough, to expand the “cultural offer” of the area and add vibrancy. The community will have the opportunity to see the showcase of products made by workspace practitioners, and artists will have an opportunity to market their works or services.

Art at the Centre has twelve current requests for studio spaces from artists on the Isle of Sheppey. The Swale Borough Council Corporate Plan and current Queenborough & Rushenden Masterplan cite employment and learning & skills agendas as a priority for the area, and the development of CCIs forms part of the long-term vision for culture in Swale, as noted in Ambitions for Swale, Sustainable Communities Strategy.

The studios will be housed at the Castle Connections site (formerly known as the ‘Old School’) in Queenborough. The car park has been negotiated as a site and the ongoing use of water and electricity has been donated.

Art at the Centre Swale will act as a signposting service for emerging and established artists and CCIs, working with regional and local resources to offer support and opportunities. There are significant resources to draw upon for this, such as South East Media Network, Creative Way, Kent Adult Education Service, Sittingbourne Community College, Life Long Learning Network at University of Kent, Asian Arts Dev. Kala Kendra, Business Link Kent, CIBAS, Thames Gateway Chamber, UCCA – Medway Creative Business Initiative (MCBI), along with national resources.

To Apply

Contact Nicole Mollett for more info;

Nicolemollett@swale.gov.uk