Art / Spike island
Claims artists are being ‘unfairly evicted’ from Spike Island
A ‘studio review’ process at Spike Island, resulting in one of the founding members being asked to leave, has sparked outrage among some artists.
The director and trustees of the venue on Cumberland Road say the new procedures follow three years of extensive consultation, with the aim of offering a fairer, more transparent system for all and one that boosts inclusivity and accessibility.
More than 1,300 people have signed a petition calling on Spike Island bosses to rethink what they say is the “unfair eviction” of artists, a process that is currently on hold due to the coronavirus outbreak.
is needed now More than ever
Their campaign highlights the plight of Howard Silverman, a committed artist and founder member of the collective which later became Spike Island, who was asked to re-apply for his space at a time when his wife was receiving treatment for cancer.
The petition says: “He is an award-winning artist and a cornerstone of Bristol’s contemporary art scene. He mentors art students whilst promoting the public understanding of contemporary art through exhibitions and open studios.”
Artist Julian Claxton describes Howard as “the very epitome of what a contemporary artist should be”. Claxton argues the review resulted in a number of “disastrous decisions”, with three out of six artists being unsuccessful.
Responding to the concerns, Spike Island bosses have said they are disappointed by claims being made, which they describe as “inaccurate and misleading”.
Some artists are angry about a new review process at Spike Island. Photo by Martin Booth
A Spike Island spokesperson said: “Our new studio review process was introduced in June 2019 after three years of extensive consultation with studio holders and their nominated representatives. We believe it offers a much fairer and more transparent process for all artists.
“As a registered charity receiving public funding, we have a responsibility to support a range of talent across our city and region, including local artists from different backgrounds and at different career stages, not just our existing studio holders. Our studios have to be dynamic, inclusive and accessible and the new review process will help achieve that.”
A concept originally founded as Artspace Bristol in the mid-1970s by a group of painters, sculptors and printmakers, Spike Island – as it became after a move to the former Brooke Bond tea-packing warehouse – is now home to some 70 studios.
To date, two studio review panels have taken place at the site, in October 2019 and January 2020. The process will see the introduction of five-year leases in place of one-year stints, with panel reviews held on an ongoing basis. It is currently halted due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Campaign group Spike Reviewed is calling on Spike Island to reinstate all “evicted artists” and call a halt to further reviews until a system is in place that has been agreed by the studio holders’ democratic decision-making body.
The review process is currently halted due to coronavirus lockdown measures. Photo of recent Open Studios at Spike Island by Lisa Whiting
Responding to the petition, the spokesperson said: “We are aware of the petition surrounding the review of one of our current studio holders. Whilst it would be inappropriate to comment on individual cases, we are extremely disappointed by the claims that are being made, which are inaccurate and misleading.
“We completely understand that, particularly for some of our longer-standing tenants, the introduction of a new process is difficult to accept, and we have tried our hardest to be as fair and flexible as we can – especially with studio holders whose reviews have been unsuccessful. This has included going through an appeal process and offering multiple extensions to notice periods.
“We have also put the review process and any existing notice periods on hold for the time being in light of COVID-19.”
Main photo of Spike Island (taken before the lockdown) by Max McClure
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