Artists shown the door
Story idea: Rupert Malin
A group of artists based in a former shoe factory on Hall Road have been told they have to leave. They’ve been given 3 weeks to vacate the premises, 48 hours after they stage a major exhibition.
The former Bally Shoe Factory on Hall Road has been used as studio and exhibition space for local artists since 2007. The artists and community groups at the Art Factory always knew they were temporary tenants in the disused building, but have been shocked by the news.
Artist, Rupert Malin said: “We were told on Monday that we have 3 weeks to get out. Nobody knows why we’re leaving.” Another local artist, Martin Laurance, whose work is exhibited internationally, said: “It’s a shock how little notice we’ve been given. We were always told we’d be given 2 or 3 months warning. That’s the blow, the shock. We’ve been given a very small window of time to find alternative accommodation.”
On Saturday, the artists are hosting a public exhibition as part of Norfolk Open Studios over 3 weekends. Last year the exhibition, which includes the work of community groups such as Sprowston Day Centre, attracted over 700 people. Artist David Lindsay said: “The problem is that there are very few places in Norwich that are dedicated to exhibiting art work.”
Tin House, a local community arts company, who make large exhibits for processions and carnivals, have also been made homeless. Ali MacKenzie who runs Tin House said: “We’ve been tenants there for around 3 and a half years and we’ve been very lucky. We’ve been given a good home at the Art Factory. We always knew it was coming but to be given just 3 weeks notice is a shock. For many of us it’s our livelihood. Target Follow in every other respect have been fantastic.”
For artist K.R Pomeroy, the closure highlights a wider issue: “The big problem is that the visual arts are poorly catered for in Norwich. If Norwich is to be a City of Culture, it needs to take visual arts more seriously.”
The developers of the site, Targetfollow, provide artists studios and exhibition spaces across the country and are actively involved in community projects. Their plans include a new Asda store on the site. They were unavailable for comment today.
The artists are appealing for anyone with premises, or even temporary storage space, to get in touch. They’re also asking Targetfollow to give them more time to move out. Ali Mackenzie added: “The Art factory has been a splendid place. The space has been used hugely by a lot of people. We need a place like that in Norwich… We are loosing a valuable space, in loosing the Factory. It’s going to be missed.”
One Comment to “Artists shown the door”
Comment
I would like to clarify my comment quoted in the article. Some people feel that Norwich is well provided for in terms of visual arts venues. The SCVA does not usually exhibit the work of local artists. NUCA provides for a very specific need – the education of students in the arts at both under-graduate and post-graduate level. The Castle, whilst it has exhibited some local works and individual artists, does not provide a regular venue for “local artists” (I mean by this term professional artists who live locally).
Commercial galleries are businesses and have to “stock” what they know they can sell.
So, having moaned is there a positive suggestion? Yes. We need a civically owned art space. There are two models I am aware of in France. A space which anyone can use once their name comes to the top of the list. The better solution for professional artists who live locally, which also operates (sometimes BOTH systems operate in the same town), is a civically owned space which is allocated to artists by selection. There is a fuller explanation if anyone wants to find out more.
In a Norwich which is a City of Culture it cannot rely on just SCVA, NUCA and the castle to promote the visual arts.