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Empty shops campaign
Empty shops network supports artists.
Described on BBC's Imagine by Alan Yentob as "An ingenious way of bringing art to the people", the Empty shops network has moved fast up the recession-busting agenda.
Instigated by the artist-led Revolutionary Arts Group (RAG), it's part of a timely and strategic movement designed not to pretty-up down-trodden urban centres but to create a genuine route for artists' self-determined projects.
By February 2009, it had been estimated that about 10% of the UKs shops were sitting empty and the figure is forecast to rise to one in six shops by the end of the year, with over 1,000 high street businesses closing every week.
RAG's Dan Thompson (and an AIR member) says: "Landlords letting artists, arts organisations and community groups use their empty spaces see the property looking great and kept in good order, and their business getting some great publicity. The users benefit from low-cost space on short and easy-to-manage leases, meaning they can take a bigger risk on bolder, more innovative and experimental projects and maybe even get a good business kick-started. This means that local communities benefit from increased access to meaningful and enjoyable activity on their high street. And seeing their town being brought back to life they may visit, spend locally and maybe stop other businesses from closing too".
Arts Council England has set aside £500,000 to support the Town Centres Initiative announced by Hazel Blears, the then Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Andy Burnham, then Secretary of State for Culture, on 14 April. This will award grants of £1,000 to £10,000 will enable projects to "reinvigorate ailing town centres by taking over empty retail space for creative activities", with grants of £1,000 to £10,000 available.
For links to thirty-seven UK projects for you to research projects to network with go artistsandmakers.com/staticpages/index.php/emptyshops
Read Dan Thompson's Tour: Artists in empty shops
First published: a-n.co.uk July 2009
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