The Artspace/Lifespace story.

Project participants with Sir Hugh and Lady Casson 1992

The Artspace project began in a small converted shoe shop in Portobello road in the summer of 1992. Local artists were invited to display their works free of charge as part of the Exposure 2000 exhibition in The Nu World Arts Gallery. Artspace Lifespace negotiated with the owners of the property for short term use of the shop space through out the summer for exhibitions and performances by local artists. Over a 6 month period hundreds of local artists and crafts people exhibited and participated in the exhibition.

The initial drive of the project was to put art back into the hearts, eyes and hands of the community. From the strong local network established during the initial Gallery project., we felt we had enough support to approach a local Housing trust in an attempt to secure a 6 month lease on a care taking basis for a 25,000 sq. ft building awaiting development, Bridge House, near Ladbroke grove.

North Kensington housing trust supported the proposal and the first Artspace Lifespace canter was born. Without exterior funding the project established a working community summer project offering space, materials, tuition and exhibition facilities to local artists as well as opening the canter to groups and organizations around London wishing to visit the canter or hire the services of one of the artists.

The project maintained a strict code of practice making essential repairs to buildings upon arrival, of leaving a premises in better condition than it was found in and of attempting to attract positive media attention and public interest in the property and its owners by its short term establishment as a valuable community resource. On this voluntary basis the project developed and expanded with original group members taking its theories and practices with them into similar projects across London, the UK , Europe and internationally as far away as New Zealand and Australia. Speaking the global language of Art the project has over the last decade built an international network of pro-active artists, groups and communities. The Regenerarts project is one such group.

URBAN TASK FORCE REPORT AND AGENDA 21 SHOW THE WAY

"empty and underused buildings are a blight on surrounding areas" .......Urban Task Force Report 2001

Regenerarts are a proactive group of Artists and Crafts persons dedicated to recycling semi-derelict and long-term vacant properties into venues capable of housing arts events or workshop facilities for local community based projects and Artists..

The 2001 Urban Task Force Report acknowledges :-"empty and underused buildings are a blight on surrounding areas and a waste of potential resources" and "as evidence of dereliction may cause disproportionate damage to local morale and reinforce the overall sense of urban decline."

The report identifies the existence of "underused spaces where local communities could take action if the right support were available." Likewise Agenda 21 sets parameters for information flow towards the communities in inner cities that include a focus on utilizing the arts to enhance people's lives through performance and workshops, in essence entertainment and education.

Our commitment is to create a broad range of opportunities through workshops, exchange projects, Arts events and exhibitions. This an essential aspect of our work. All our workshops and events are staffed on a voluntary basis by the artists involved.