Artist defends life drawing classes in wake of criticism

An artist has defended the life drawing classes she runs in Bristol’s two strip clubs, Urban Tiger and Central Chambers.

Beki Wills has spoken out in the wake of criticism aimed at her business by a member of the public during the licensing renewal of one of the city centre venues.

Central Chambers’ renewal application was approved by councillors last week despite receiving 67 objections. Urban Tiger’s license was also renewed.

This means that both premises can continue operating for another year but it comes amid a fierce debate over Bristol City Council’s controversial draft licensing policy, which would prohibit such establishments anywhere in the city.

Responding to a public comment criticising the classes, Beki, who runs the Bristol Life Drawing sessions at both venues, argued the art classes are a “harmless” activity.

“When I get groups in, they are usually quite excited, but by about ten minutes in they’re sitting there with their pencils and their charcoal really getting into it,” she says.

A stag party taking part in a life drawing session at Central Chambers on St Stephen’s Street – photo: Beki Wills

Sexual entertainment venues (SEVs) like Central Chambers are legal in the UK, but it is the responsibility of individual councils to grant them licenses.

A public consultation is currently in the pipeline for the council’s proposed “nil cap” on strip clubs.

The complaint from Thursday’s licensing sub-committee hearing displayed one of Beki’s life drawing posters, claiming that the city centre club is “offering sex entertainment for most of the working day and evening”.

This is not the first time that issues have been raised about the classes. Another complaint lodged last year, in response to Urban Tiger’s application, said that the life drawing classes were a way of “circumventing the SEV licence by offering nude entertainment under a euphemism”.

The person wrote: “It is repeatedly claimed that the club does not operate as an SEV as part of the daytime economy, yet (the life drawing class) demonstrates that it is clearly offering sex entertainment as part of its daytime business.”

Beki rejects this criticism, saying that her lessons have got “nothing to do with circumventing the SUV license because it doesn’t need one”.

She has been running life drawing classes for 12 years, at venues all across Bristol, from Pryzm and Pop World to community centres and youth hostels.

“These classes are done in every city centre venue in Bristol all weekend,” Beki says.

“There are no objections about these classes being in any other venue, apart from Urban Tiger and Central Chambers.”

She also says that there are objections every year but denies that her classes involve any form of sexual entertainment, adding: “I don’t know why people are complaining about it in the way they are.”

When people complain about her classes it’s always in response to sessions involving male groups, says Beki, who runs classes for both hen and stag parties.

“They ignore the female groups because it doesn’t fit their agenda,” she adds.

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Read more: ‘Women should be able to be as sexual as they like’

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One of the main groups lobbying against strip clubs is Bristol Women’s Commission, which urged Bristol City Council to reject Central Chamber’s application last week.

Penny Gane, the chair of the group, told the City Hall that Central Chambers allows “women’s bodies to be objectified for the sexual gratification of men”.

She added: “Bristol City Council has a duty to uphold equality law, yet it is this committee of the council that has enabled harmful attitudes towards women.”

Beki states that there is no objectification in her life drawing classes. “It’s less about objectification, it’s more about appreciation,” she says.

Beki’s work is currently being exhibited at HOURS in Colston Yard, until September 26.

Main photo: Beki Wills 

Read more: Bristol’s two strip clubs can stay open but future remains uncertain

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