Bow Arts Trust Poplar HARCA

Background

Bow Arts Trust aims to support artists by providing secure, affordable studio space as well as offering opportunities for employment and community engagement. The Trust is committed to serving the residents of Tower Hamlets in London, one of the poorest boroughs in the country, through investment in the cultural environment of the area and contributing to local regeneration projects.

As an organisation without regular public funding, Bow Arts Trust is committed to adopting a social enterprise model through all aspects of its work. Giving artists the tools and opportunities to be economically sustainable is key to the Trust’s success in raising the profile of the arts and re-educating the public about the work of visual artists. The live/work scheme is evidence of this model in practice.
 

Project

As a nominated community partner of St. Paul’s Way Community School, Bow Arts Trust was involved in supporting the school through a major rebuild. Also involved was social landlord Poplar HARCA and, together with a representative of local residents, all parties explored mutual opportunities to help the school and surrounding environment.

Bow Arts Trust proposed that Poplar HARCA give them some of the many empty flats in the area for artists to use as live/work spaces. This would be an opportunity to bring these empty properties back into use, for artists to acquire a much-needed place to live as well as space to work, and an opportunity for artists to be embedded at the heart of the community whilst also working to regenerate the local area.

Poplar HARCA agreed to the scheme across their entire district, understanding that artists form a natural community who will work towards the regeneration and aesthetic improvement of their environment. Another plus point was that there would be zero cost involved to Poplar HARCA residents.

Artists were selected based on a number of criteria,including their commitment to community engagement as well as their artistic practice. It was also important that artists’ earning levels did not preclude them from living in social housing.

Social enterprise  is a business model which offers the prospect of  a greater equity of  economic   power and a  more sustainable society, by combining market efficiency with social and environmental justice.

A project run by Bhajan Hunjan, a live/work artist is a good example. Bhajan taught printing techniques to Bengali  women in the local community,  and participants made bedspreads,  cushions and other textiles.  Bow Arts Trust then approached HARCA to explore the possibilities of using empty shop units in the area to sell the group’s work. Not only does this help the further  regeneration   of  the area it  also empowers the community group as they move from workshop participants to businesswomen.

The  artists inhabit homes that  are  awaiting refurbishment or redevelopment as part of  Poplar HARCA’s longer-term plans. To enable  work to begin according to HARCA’s  schedule  of work the artists agree to vacate them at the end of a fixed period. Another space can be taken up under similar terms at a different location within the area, maintaining involvement with the local community.

Bow Arts Trust, acting as landlords, undertake a full gas and electrical inspection  of the empty property. They also fix all windows  and doors and make sure that there is basic plumbing. The artists then have a period where, rent free, they can make their space habitable, as well as personalise it.

The  financing  of  the scheme  is  evidence  of  the social enterprise  model.  The charges  to artists are based on  affordable  social housing rates. The scheme intends to help artists thrive economically as well as artistically.  Two-thirds  of  the artists’  rent contributes to the running costs of the scheme and a third goes towards a community arts fund that delivers a programme  of high quality, sustainable community art projects for local people throughout the borough.

 

Impact

Benefits to the community:

• One third of the rent from the scheme goes into a self-supporting  community  arts chest which directly supports community arts activity
• The live/work scheme provides opportunities for the community, especially young people, to raise their aspirations  and access creative  industry and other career opportunities
• The local  community  can enjoy  a safer,  more pleasant  area with occupied buildings full of life and vibrancy

“I’ve lived in Warren House for over 25 years and only ever knew my next-door neighbours. Since the artists moved  in I know  nearly the whole building. It’s such a lively and friendly community now.”     Local resident

Benefits to the Registered Social Landlord:

• The project is a no-cost solution to the problems associated  with empty properties;  rates, anti- squatting measures, maintenance, policing, and anti-social behaviour
• The artists taking part in the live/work scheme make a sustained, consolidated contribution to the communities of the estates
• Working with the Bow  Arts Trust helps Poplar HARCA to fulfil its mandate to support residents and work towards the regeneration  of the area

Benefits to the artists:

• Studio and living costs are consolidated into one affordable space so artists can concentrate on their work without having to take on part-time work to cover studio costs
• The social enterprise model from which the live/ work scheme operates helps artists succeed economically and therefore artistically
• Engaging with the local community helps artists to grow in confidence  and can add a  new dimension to their practice as well as supporting their work financially
• Live/work artists can support each other, whether with a friendly cup of tea or sharing  skills and experience  and so a community  of  artists is growing

“It’s really great, I can’t believe I have been given  this  opportunity,  and  knowing that part of my rent goes  directly to supporting local communities is incredible.”
The interior of one of the Poplar HARCA live/work flats

Lessons Learned

• This is the first scheme in the UK to develop a long-term partnership between the studio sector and a social landlord
• Although the location of the live/work units might change, the model on which they are based continues so the relationships between artist and community and between studio provider and landlord continues to develop
• Highly visible, small, self contained art projects are run in the community, such as bulb and shrub planting, to introduce the artists, raise the profile of the scheme, and instantly make a positive difference to the area
   

Next Steps

With 25 units available at the outset the number had risen to 60 by July 2010. There is a registration list  of  over 200 artists  looking  for live/work units (July  2010). The  scheme is  part of  a  10  year regeneration programme in the Poplar area which runs until 2017.

As more people become aware of the scheme and more funding  is granted,  high quality, large scale projects can be  planned. The  live/work   artists generate £56,000 of community  arts money each year which makes a significant contribution  to any application for additional project funding.

To   evaluate the  scheme, an  innovative  diary template was designed  which provides qualitative and quantitative data about the artists’ engagement as residents,  with the local community  and with their own practice.

Reference

To receive more information please contact:

Michael Cubey, Assistant Director Head of Property Bow Arts Trust 183 Bow Road London E3 2SJ

Tel: 020 7515 7491

Email:mcubey@bowarts.com

Website: http://www.bowarts.org/