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The Handbag Factory opens its second hire gallery space on the ground floor, Gallery 2.

Sitting in the atrium of the building, and looked over by the mezzanine coworking level and a tall skylight ceiling, Gallery 2 is a unique exhibition and event space in The Handbag Factory. It adds another 800 square foot available for hire in the building, which can be used for exhibitions, creative events, and other projects.

The gallery has been converted from an open-plan office and coworking space, which is now situated alongside Bainbridge Print Studios and desk pods towards the rear of the building.

Based at 3 Loughborough Street, Vauxhall, the building was originally an old handbag factory before being turned into a gallery space in the 1990s. It then acted as a coworking venue for a number of businesses before ASC took on the building in mid 2023, transforming the space into a creative hub for exhibitions, coworking and venue hire.

All venue hire in The Handbag Factory contributes to ASC’s wider charitable mission of providing affordable workspace to artists, makers and the creative industries.

You can find out more about the venue and hire galleries on The Handbag Factory website.

Image: A Mark is a River, exhibition, March-April 2024

Artists’ Studio Company announce the 2nd recipient of their free studio competition in Alperton, Brent

The Artists’ Studio Company (ASC) are pleased to announce the winner of their free studio competition as Textile Designer Warren Reilly @wr.designs_

Warren was born in Brent, studied at Queens Park Community School before completing a Foundation Course at Kingston University and went on to secure a First Class Bachelors Honours Degree in Textiles in Practice from Manchester Metropolitan University at Manchester School of Art.

On graduating, in 2019, Warren returned to live in Brent and has continued his art’s practise, developing his interest in social design and applied art. He is currently the creative director of Fashioning our History for the London Borough of Culture programme, a project that explores diversity in fashion and art, through a series of workshops and talks, culminating in an exhibition of participant’s work.

Warren will start his ASC tenancy in June 2021 and have free rent for 2 years.

“We’re really excited that together with ASC we can support another fantastic Brent artist. We’re really proud that this is the sort of opportunity we can offer through Regeneration and so invest in the creative culture of Brent. We wish Warren all the best and can’t wait to see his work.”  Councillor Shama Tatler, Fryent Ward & Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Property and Planning.

The inaugural recipient of the free studio, Graphic Artist Yoni Alter, has moved into another studio at ASC Studios in Alperton. He started his tenancy before the launch of the studios in February 2019 and his free tenancy was extended until April 2021 to support him during the pandemic. During his free tenancy, Yoni was commissioned to produce a piece of public art. The FRIENDSHIP SCULPTURE was installed at Alperton Sports Ground in October 2020.

Yoni Alter says of his tenancy: “I was struggling working at home on larger pieces. Having the studio opened the door with Brent. At the launch event I met key people at the Council who toured the new studios. I was put in touch with the Brent regen team and spent the next 18 months developing an idea for a sculpture to go into a local park. 

One of the best things is the community at 243 Ealing Road, it’s a great community of parents and kids. A lot of us are without families here and our friends are from all kinds of places. We use the gardens communally. I can bring my children and their friends to my studio to see my work. They had no experience of art and artists.

Work-wise, it’s been a very tough year (not just for me). Thanks to having the studio I’ve been producing large artworks, just as I was hoping to when I applied for the studio, so I’m grateful for it.”

As one of London’s largest artists’ workspace charities, ASC, purchased the new-build property at Alperton to offer 25 bespoke studios and 6 micro studios at affordable inclusive rents for fine artists, designer-makers and not-for-profit arts organisations. All tenants benefit from shared hospitality facilities. One unit is offered rent-free every two years for the lifetime of the building to a local creative who is a Brent resident. 

The project is spread over 3 Ground and First Floor blocks located within a new Network Homes/Hills mixed-use  scheme, overlooking the Grand Union Canal and a 2 minute walk from Alperton Tube Station (Piccadilly Line).

The acquisition of this building marks a significant development for ASC. Since the charity was founded in 1993 it has relied on end of life, short leasehold property. Acquiring permanent property is vital for providing affordable artist’s studios in a climate of unsustainable and unaffordable rents. 243 Ealing Road, Alperton is ASC’s template for expanding the charity’s benefit groups and services.

“Artists and creatives can no longer afford to live and work in London. Especially after the pandemic, which has decimated The Arts. Our city is envied by the rest of the world for its creative output and culture but we have reached a tipping point. My Charity has provided affordable workspace to 1000’s of artists and creatives for over 25 years. We have always operated in low rent buildings but now these properties have gone. 243 Ealing Road and Brent’s other affordable workspace initiatives across the borough are exactly what is needed both in Brent and across the capital. By acquiring permanent sites at below market value enables us to support local creative people permanently, and create opportunities like the free studio offer to tangibly support a local artist.”   Peter Flack, Chief Executive of ASC.

For further information please contact:

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE: FREE STUDIO FOR TWO YEARS FOR A LAMBETH BASED CREATIVE

Applications now open!!

ASC and Lambeth Council are excited to invite applications from creatives living in Lambeth to join ASC Streatham Hill as Artist in Residence. The successful applicant will have the use of a free studio space for 2 years and the opportunity to exhibit in ASC’s Gallery and Lambeth Town Hall.

Deadline: Midnight Sunday 9 January 2022

ASC is happy to share that it has completed the purchase of 47c Streatham Hill.

Given the current economic climate this is a huge achievement that involved raising over £2,000,000. We are very grateful to the London Borough of Lambeth for providing grant funding totalling £200,000 through the ‘Future Workspace Fund’. Without this support the purchase would not have been possible.

We are planning a program of improvement works to the property that includes a new roof, heating system and gallery. We will be holding a launch event upon completion of these works, the date of which will be announced soon.

ASC has leased 47C Streatham Hill since 2006 however the lease was due to expire in August 2021. In purchasing the property ASC has secured the workspaces of 57 local artists and protected an amazing creative community in perpetuity.