Arts West Side & SPACE joined forces from Apr 2016 to March 2018

“We are very proud of what we've achieved with Arts West Side and are sorry that we aren't able to continue this good work but are glad to see it will continue to be used as an arts space for the next couple of years. Thank you to everyone who has supported us since we took it on it 2011.” Karina Castro, Project Manager.

Last week, we all said a goodbye to a familiar landmark in Old Market, as the friendly pigeons on the façade of Arts West Side – painted by renowned Bristol street artist Silent Hobo – were painted over, marking the end of an era for one of the area’s only dedicated community arts spaces.

Owned by Bristol City Council, 6 West Street was handed over to Trinity Community Arts, via the city’s Community Asset Transfer (CAT) process on a ‘peppercorn’ leasehold. We have been looking after the building since 2011, in order to increase arts provision in Old Market, at a time when the area was struggling with boarded up and vacant premises.

Since then, ‘Arts West Side’ has provided artists and communities with an affordable, central resource used and visited by over 2,000 people each year, helping to encourage other businesses and social enterprises to take up residency in the area. As part of the Council's bid to plug a £102m deficit, they are now seeking a commercial rent from the building.

The space will continue to be used as a meanwhile creative hub at a reduced rent by Arts West Side partners for the last 18 months, Artspace Lifespace (ASLS), who will continue their SPACE project until 2020.

We will now focus our efforts on the Trinity Centre building, which is also owned by Bristol City Council. We are currently fundraising to carry out conservation work to the much-loved community asset, having already invested over £1.5 million in protecting the Grade II* listed building.

Help us secure Trinity's past, present and future

Every Wednesday starting 10th January to 14th February 2018 Join Camilla Mason for collage, drawing and painting. Experiment with different textures and fabrics, natural and recycled materials.

Workshops start 10th January to 14th February 2018

Not sure? join us for a taster session on 6th December 2017

One year in the life of SPACE!

In April 2016, Trinity welcomed The Island (Artspace Lifespace) into a new partnership to maintain and promote Arts West Side as an affordable and accessible community arts space: SPACE occupies the ground floor of Arts West Side and shares the use of the Art Room in the first floor.

Standing for Sound, Performance and Art that the Community can Engage in (SPACE), has actively invited and involved the wider community to develop their own ideas, relevant to their needs and interests, to showcase work and participate in a free programme of events.

Working in partnership with local groups and artists, over the last year SPACE has hosted 46 events and activities under Sound, Performance, Art, Community and Engagement themes, keeping an open shop front over 224 days and engaging an audience of 2,070 people. Click here to see the full breakdown of events.

SPACE has also provide valuable work experience for 6 committed volunteers, including 2 work placements, supporting the continuous regeneration of the Old Market area. Together, they have raised the profile and visibility of local community activities and increased a sense of neighbourhood in this diverse area of the city.

Regardless of your age, profession, ethnic, cultural, or educational background; whether you consider yourself an established/emerging artist or not at all, SPACE wants to hear your ideas for 2017, so get in touch! Proposals are accepted all year round. Contact Claire Brown, SPACE Project Assistant: space@theislandbristol.com / 07922 359 261

Project history

• August 2011 - Trinity took on a 5-year lease on 6 West Street, Old Market, through the Bristol City Council's Community Asset Transfer (CAT) policy

• 2012 - Trinity launched Arts West Side (AWS), to provide a hub for community and arts activities

• April 2016 - Trinity began a partnership with Artspace Lifespace to launch SPACE - an affordable, accessible community arts exhibition space from AWS main shop-front

• July 2016 - Trinity and Artspace Lifespace launched a public petition to "Save SPACE & Arts West Side", following a City Council decision to lease the premises commercially. The petition gained over 1,000 signatures in the space of two weeks!

• August 2016 - We secured an extended lease from the City Council until the end of March 2018

• April 2018 Trinity says goodbye to AWS and hands over the running of 6 West St to Artspace Lifespace to continue their SPACE projet until 2020.

The Trinity Community Initiative (TCI) supported AWP Bristol Early Intervention in Psychosis Team with 40 hours of subsidised space hire at Arts West Side, between February and May 2016.

The Art Therapy sessions were planned for young adults, most of them referred by their GP's. The purpose of their project was to help participants to increase their understanding of what is happening, reducing the level of distress caused by unusual experiences and prioritising personal recovery and a quick return to valued roles and social relationships.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends the use of art for young people because it can help to alleviate negative symptoms and should be provided in a group setting.

We talked to Katie Gannaway, Mental Health Worker for the project, who summarised her time at Arts West Side for us:

"Earlier this year we ran a therapeutic art group from Arts West Side, for 16 weeks. The group was for young people 16- 35 years who are experiencing mental health difficulties. As part of their recovery we wanted this group to be in the community to promote social inclusion, leading to service users to feel less isolated and facilitating them to link in to other community resources.

The art group gave them an opportunity to explore their creativity whilst receiving emotional support in a safe group environment enabling them to feel more confident to be part of the community. The group was for a maximum of eight people, and included two healthcare professionals facilitating the therapeutic art group.

The feedback from group members was very positive; they liked the location because it was central, they also felt the space provided was safe and confidential, allowing them to freely express themselves through their art.

They also appreciated the art space below (SPACE), giving them the opportunity to view various exhibits, which for some, influenced their art and interest. This often impacted on our art sessions; members would access the group through the exhibition and this would become a talking point, and an opportunity to engage with others. Some of the members had never had the opportunity to visit art exhibitions; however, the accessibility provided this opportunity.

We would have struggled to provide this group in the community due to limited funds; Arts West Side offered a great space, accessible to communities that are often isolated."

The partnership between The Island (an Artspace Lifespace project) and Trinity to maintain and promote Arts West Side & SPACE as an affordable, accessible community arts space began in April 2016.

SPACE & Arts West Side have secured an extended lease from the City Council as a Community Asset Transfer and will continue as a hub for community arts and events until the end of March 2018...so let's get inspired!

Are you looking to participate, host or deliver an exhibition, creative collective, art project, community based activity? Regardless of your age, profession, ethnic, cultural, or educational background; whether you consider yourself an established/emerging artist or not at all, we want to hear your ideas for SPACE.

Standing for ‘Sound, Performance, Art, Community, Engagement’, SPACE has hosted public events, art shows, residencies, meetings, workshops, pop-up shops since April...and SPACE could be yours next!

SPACE aims to provide an opportunity for all to present a range of sound, performance, art and community based activities in our welcoming and accessible creative spaces, suitable for use as: a gallery, pop-up shop, performances, short film screening, rehearsals, meetings and much more.

Proposals are accepted all year round and should include:

• 500 words maximum, outlining your idea or project, including time-scale, tech requirements and space preference (Gallery or Art Room on 1st floor)

• For exhibitions: images representative of your work

• A website address to your work or group (if available)

• Budget (if available)

Selection of proposals will be based on quality, feasibility and the connection to the overall theme of SPACE.

Please send your proposal to SPACE

6 West street

Old Market

BS2 0BH

Website:  http://theislandbristol.com/spaces/space/

FaceBook: SPACE.TheIsland

Twitter: SPACE_theisland

Instagram: @theislandbristol #theislandbristol

@spaceoldmarket #spaceoldmarket #space #oldmarket #bristol

As you all may know, Trinity has been running 6 West Street Old Market for nearly 5 years, under Bristol City Council's Community Asset Transfer initiative, with the aim to support the regeneration of Old Market.

After a successful run of community cafe projects in the space, Trinity received many wonderful proposals for the use of the space, but we were only able to select one.

We are happy to announce that The Island submitted an innovative bid with a clear community engagement plan, which was close to Trinity's own aims and objectives for 2016.

The Island’s main vision for SPACE (Sound-Performance-Art-Community-Engagement) is to create a welcoming and open hub for the local community, supporting creativity in Bristol by showcasing work and sharing ideas. They will be curating a very exciting programme of monthly events, ranging from exhibitions, workshops, art & crafts pop-up shops, small theatre shows, fashion markets and so much more! This exciting partnership will allow us both organisations, Key Arts Providers for the city, to expand our involvement with the local community and offer in the locality.

SPACE launched on Friday 8th April, 6pm with “Vice & Virtue: Discovering the Story of Old Market Bristol” exhibition, based on Trinity's Heritage Project delivered between 2013-2015 by Dr Edson Burton and historian Mike Manson. It includes integrated extracts from oral interviews, photographs, and research findings of the area, covering the history of Old Market's pre 19th century through to the present.

If you would like further information regarding SPACE, exhibition/space or hire avails, please contact SPACE directly:

T: 01173 763 457

E: space@theislandbristol.com

W: http://theislandbristol.com/spaces/space/

Check out our All Day Menu:

DRINKS - Cappuccino, Americano, Espresso, Latte, Flat White: 1 shot £1.80 / 2 Shots £2.

Tea, Earl Grey, Peppermint, Herbal, Chai £1.80

Elderflower spritzer £1.50

BREAKFAST - Muesli banana & greek yogurt £3.00

Poached Eggs on Toast (2 eggs) £3.00

Chef Sez's Special Bengali Omelette £4

Sweet Crepes: w/Lemon & Sugar £1.50 / w/Nutella & Banana £2.50

All Day Veggie Breakfast w/coffee or tea £5.00

Warm Danish £1.50 w/coffee or tea  £3.00

LUNCH - Kitchoori Pakora & Dips £4.00

Savoury Crepe: w/Spinach, mushroom & aubergine £3.50

Dahl Poori's and Dip £4.00

Paratha & Vegetable Curry £4

Vegetable Paella and Dips £5.00

Soup of the Day with Bread £2.95

Please order any of the menu items to Take Away on the order line 0 7 7 5 6 5 0 1 0 8 7 for you to collect but we can also deliver within a half mile radius

We are currently open 8am - 4pm Tuesday - Saturday
Closed Sunday and Monday...for now...would be a great Sunday @ 11am spot to enjoy the papers and brunch...and coffee...and crepes...watch this space!

We can cater for your celebrations too, either at your home or using our facilities. Chef Sez is also a fab Soul Funk DJ so Good Food & Good Music both taken care of!

For now, thank you for reading, and look forward to seeing you soon :-)

Tracee, Sez, Johnny & James