Successes Elsewhere
Creative Entrepreneurs all over the UK are driving local growth, urban regeneration, and dynamic community. One of the biggest challenges for any enterprise is finding space in which to scale from a side business to a main concern. Here are some inspiring projects that share the spirit of the aims of South Side Studios.
01
Arts Central MK
This incredible warren of individual studios within a huge warehouse space in Kiln Farm MK demonstrates an element of need for flexible, collaborative and affordable community arts space
02
Peckham Levels
Peckham Levels has transformed a dramatically under-used car park into a thriving and eclectic environment where creative and culinary young businesses offer local people and visitors a great place to socialise, as well as giving back to the community with workshops, work experience opportunities and a range of other initiatives.
03
Margate Towns Fund
A 10-year course of improvements for Margate, focusing on scaling Margate’s creative economy and skills through a new Creative Land Trust; tackling deep health inequalities by providing more wellbeing amenities linked to Margate’s coast; improving public realm and connectivity; and making Margate’s nationally-renowned heritage assets more sustainable and inclusive.
04
Tileyard & Tileyard North
Wakefield's historic Rutland Mills waterfront complex has stood derelict for decades. Following on the success of the original Tileyard in London's King's Cross, this funding will refurbish and renovate the remaining mill buildings as part of delivering phase two of ‘Tileyard North’, a 135,000 sq ft hub for creative industries to flourish.
05
DESBOX High Wycombe
Wycombe District Council commissioned this complex of art studios and associated facilities formed from 135 recycled shipping containers, on site of a redundant municipal car park. The scheme provides studios for the local artist community. The complex is composed of 52 studio units arranged on 3 floors, a ground floor café and storage rooms of varying sizes on each floor.
06
Pride of Place Bedford
Pride of Place is an umbrella project aiming to drive change and demonstrate that a creative approach to placemaking through co-creating, and working together with not alongside the community can help regenerate the high street.
07
Wasps Scotland
Wasps is the UK's largest studio provider, with over 1000 artists and 33 organisations currently using their space.
With over 40 years experience and 20 buildings across Scotland, Wasps have redeveloped buildings generating employment and opportunity.
08
Roundhouse
Roundhouse is a performing arts and concert venue in London. It was once a railway engine shed, but reopened as a performing arts venue in 1964. Their mission is to give young people the space to develop their creative skills through their programmes and are currently working with 7,500 young people each year.
09
Cockpit
Named for their first location, Cockpit Yard, which was originally an 18th-century cockfighting arena in Bloomsbury and was then taken over by a cabinet maker in 1745, Cockpit's focus is now on careers in crafts and is home to 150 independent creative businesses.
10
Ayres House Wallingford
Based in Oxfordshire, Ayres House is an 1880 Victorian house that is now home to a creative community. In 2019 the studios opened, with 14 studios over 3 floors, along with a gallery/ education room, kitchen, garden area, all for the residents to use.
They foster creativity by connecting artists and letting collaboration feed ingenuity.
11
Westbury Arts Centre Milton Keynes
Westbury Arts Centre has been a home to artists since the 1980s. The centre is based in a former 17th-century manor house and provides 19 studios to rent. They provide an events programme that includes a variety of creative workshops and exhibitions for the public.