Location: Bristol, United Kingdom
Mission: Spike Island is an international centre for the development of contemporary art and design. Based in Bristol, UK, it is home to a gallery, café and working space for artists, designers and creative businesses. A vibrant hub for production, presentation and debate, we offer opportunities for audiences to engage directly with creative practices through participation and discussion.
Our vision is to position art as central to society, which we do in two ways: by offering a high quality, challenging programme of exhibitions and events; and by fostering a dynamic and critically engaged community of artists and designers. Spike Island collaborates with local and regional partners as well as with international institutions, museums and universities.
The support of artists and designers, and audiences’ encounters with them, underlies everything Spike Island does. To this end we seek to develop fruitful synergies across the building which is home to:
- A year-round programme of public exhibitions, talks and activities
- Over 70 artists in low-cost studios
- Other contemporary arts organisations such as Works|Projects, Situations and Spike Print Studio
- A range of creative companies in fields including: fine art fabrication; graphic, web, product and interactive design; typography; film and video production; CGI; illustration and animation
- Shared space used by over 90 members of the Associates network
- Students and staff from the University of the West of England Fine Art BA programmes
Cost: Studios currently cost £4.91 per sq ft per year. This includes VAT and all services including heating, WiFi and use of workshops. To give an example of costs, a 300sq ft studio would cost £122.75 per month. Rent must be paid monthly by direct debit. A deposit of 2 months’ rent must be paid in advance. Rents increase annually by 3% from 1 April with the cost of inflation.
Application Fee: no application fee
Number of Artists: Over 70 artists at all stages of their careers, working across all media
Accommodations: Individual studios range in size from 176 to 833sq ft, with the majority of them between 200 and 400sq ft. Some studios are shared by two or more artists.
Located in an 80,000 square foot building in the Cumberland Basin at the edge of Bristol’s Harbourside. Approximately 20 minutes on foot from the city centre. Car parking is available on Cumberland Road and in the car park adjacent to the SS Great Britain off Gas Ferry Road.
The Cafe: Open seven days a week, Spike Café serves a range of drinks, snacks and meals in a sunny, laid back spot overlooking the river. It’s an ideal place to relax and refresh whether you’re visiting the exhibitions, wandering around the Harbourside, meeting friends or working in the building.
Our food is freshly prepared and we use seasonal, locally sourced products whenever possible. Sandwiches, made daily on Herbert’s bread, feature classic combinations as well as more unusual flavours. Our popular salad bar offers a rotating selection of healthy and tasty options, while our lunchtime specials menu changes daily and includes a variety of toasties, soup served with Mark’s Bread, and jacket potatoes. We’ve always got plenty of vegetarian options.
Our coffee is made from fairly traded Farmer30 Origin Coffee and is delicious with a piece of cake from bakers Peck & Strong or a homemade biscuit. We also offer Clipper herbal teas and a wide range of locally made Lovely juices, soft drinks, wine, spirits and beer, including Bath Ales.
Length of Stay: n/a
Demographic/Medium: Spike Island is pleased to receive proposals and applications for studios from artists working in a range of media and at any stage of their careers. There are, however, some restrictions on eligibility: Undergraduate students in full time education, Repeat applicants who have not waited 18 months since their last application, Applicants who earn, on average, over £15500 net per annum.
A commitment to an ongoing contemporary art practice, An engagement with the wider contemporary art context, A clear vision for the development of their work, How work space at Spike Island will benefit their practice, A willingness to make an active contribution to Spike Island
Benefits: New studio holders receive a free three month membership to the Associates programme, after which they can join at a discounted rate of £8.00 per month.
Deadline: Spike Island accepts applications for studio space on a rolling basis. These are reviewed quarterly and, if successful, the artists go into our pool to take up studio spaces as and when they become available.
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