The Art House

Project description

Wakefield District has a strong artistic tradition in sculpture and the visual arts, with particular reference to locally born world class sculptors, Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth. Wakefield Council recognises that culture has a critical role to play in the delivery of the district’s strategic priorities, and is fully committed to the achievement of its cultural ambitions, which are outlined in the district’s Core Strategy, Cultural Strategy and referenced in its Community Strategy.   

The Art House is a unique national membership organisation for visual artists, created to provide and campaign for equality of access to opportunities for work, training and exhibiting for both disabled and non-disabled artists equally. Its facilities at Wakefield provides purpose-built accessible and supported studio spaces, artists can work alongside each other on equal terms, as well as designing and managing projects including residencies, exhibitions, commissions and research, nationally and internationally.

Aims and objectives

The aim of The Art House in Wakefield was to provide studio space for both disabled and non-disabled artists, with onsite support of technicians available to help disabled people with any work they are unable to undertake themselves.

Founded in 1994, The Art House charity organisation was set up by artist Patricia Sutcliffe, who uses a wheelchair due to having osteo-arthritis, to work towards a goal of providing other disabled artists with suitable workspace, otherwise unavailable at the time.

Project Start Date and End Date

The Art House took 12 years to plan and develop from start to finish. A feasibility study funded by the Arts Council England was completed in 2000 by The Art House. Following a long search for a site and a local authority willing and able to support the project with EU funding, construction work was able to begin in February 2007, and the studios and facilities in Wakefield finally opened in June 2008.

Services offered

The Art House was built on the site between Drury Lane Library – a Grade II listed building – and the Black Horse pub on Drury Lane.  The building provides 14 specially designed, equipped and managed studio space allowing both disabled and non-disabled artists to work here. These studios have 24 hour, seven-day access. This is uniquely combined with purpose built, short-stay accessible residential accommodation for artists to use when working in two studios available for short-term let at The Art House.In addition to the studio facilities, The Art House provides:

• a telephone advice service,
• meeting rooms,
• offices for the Art House charity/company,
• a community studio with printmaking facilities,
• organisation of national and international residencies, and
• the hosting of exhibitions and open studio events

Additionally, the site is accessible by public transport, situated 2 minutes from the railway station with a municipal car park nearby.

Success factors

The combination of work and residential space has created a truly inclusive and accessible environment for artists of all physical abilities, meeting the requirements of the Arts Council’s policy regarding access and outreach.  This model of inclusive access residential and studio space is unique to this development.

The Art House site, in close proximity to both the railway station and a municipal car park, is an ideal location for an easily accessible community building with specific facilities for disabled people.

In terms of sustainability, the building was one of the first in the area to meet Part L of the building regulations.  It has a high level of insulation, solar thermal water heating and photovoltaic cells, as well as passing the ‘air tightness’ test.  Being located in a central part of the town on what had been for many years a vacant lot improves the aesthetics of the area, and fills a gap in the streetscape of this important Conservation Area.

The Art House was Highly Commended in the 2009 RCIS Pro-Yorkshire Awards in the Community Building category.  The building has also been featured in ‘Access by Design’ magazine.

Risk factors

An archaeological dig on the site uncovered mediaeval remains and so construction work was delayed for 3 months, costing The Art House £60,000.

An additional problem that had to be resolved that the landlord of the neighbouring pub had a right of access across the site to get into his garage, which was built on land owned by the Council, but leased to the public house tenant. A revised leasehold agreement was finally negotiated, under which The Art House demolished the old garage and built a new garage for the landlord as part of their new development.

Further to this, other problems contributed to a 3-month delay in completion, and therefore the project was unable to claim the remaining £80,000 EU Objective 2 funding. The Art House then had to call in liquidated damages to compensate for this.

Once open, The Art House experienced difficulties in publicising the accommodation and studios for short-term let because of the project’s unique nature.

Business/operational model

The Art House is a charity and company limited by guarantee. The Art House led and managed the project, with support and advice from Arts Council England, CABE, and Wakefield Metropolitan District Council (WMDC).

The Wakefield District Cultural Strategy 2007 – 2012 is being championed, implemented and monitored by Wakefield Cultural Partnership’s Board. The board is made up of key stakeholders and aims to provide advocacy and leadership, support individuals and local groups to achieve their potential, secure funding and to ensure that the value of culture to the Wakefield district is fully appreciated.

Financing and Funding Arrangement

The project cost a total of £2.8million. Funding was contributed from various sources including £1.41million from the National Lottery through Arts Council England, £680,900 ERDF EU Objective 2 funding, £200,000 received from Wakefield MDC, and £300,000 from Yorkshire Forward the regional development agency.  Wakefield MDC also donated the site on which The Art House is built on a long peppercorn lease.

Most costs of running The Art House are met by Arts Council funding, together with income generated through studio lets, room hire and catering, plus support from Wakefield MDC and West Yorkshire Grants.  So far, the cost of running The Art House is £220,000 per year, £130,000 of which is allocated to salaries.

Measurement and Monitoring

Measures of success for the project are:

• 12 resident artists’ studios let to artists with and without disabilities
• Usage of short-term studios and flat
• Usage of community studio/printmaking studio
• Usage of meeting rooms, bringing in revenue

At the beginning of September 2008, all 12 studios were let, with 5 being occupied by disabled artists.  Although all other areas are in use, progress is more gradual than had been originally projected.

Future developments

There are plans to extend The Art House into Drury Lane Library when the new library opens in Wakefield city centre, leaving the Grade II listed building vacant. It will provide a further 20 artists’ studios. This work is estimated to cost around £1 million with final plans and funding yet to be confirmed.

Publications

The Art House website: www.the-arthouse.org.uk from which you may download The Art House’s access guidelines for artists’ studios ‘Creating Inclusive Access’.

The Arts Council in its Capital Case Study provides more detailed information on the Art House

Wakefield Metropolitan District Council, adopted April 2009, Local Development Framework Core Strategy

Wakefield Metropolitan District Council, Wakefield District Cultural Strategy 2007 – 2012