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Artist community under threat from rent rise
Since 2009 a group of theatre makers, performers, and live artists have been based at 11 St Nicholas Street. Know as Residence, the 17 artists took over the space, paying a peppercorn rent, under a council scheme to bring empty buildings back into use.
In return the group have managed and maintained the building, known as The Milk Bar, and developed a national reputation for themselves as innovative artists and performers.
Now they have been told they could lose the premises after Bristol City Council put the property on the open rental market.
is needed now More than ever
Although the group say they can afford the £8,000-per-year for the lease, it is understood that offers above-market rates have been made and the council has said it is obliged to make the decision based on financial value.
Residence member and artist Ella Good said: “Residence want to take on the lease at the rate that the council has advertised the property for – we’re not asking for a freebie or a hand out.
“We believe the council should take into account Residence’s six year history of managing and maintaining 11 St Nicholas Street. We’ve created an artistic hub which has made a huge contribution to the cultural reputation of Bristol.
“Losing the building means the livelihoods of the seventeen artists who work from there will all be put at risk.”
An open letter to Bristol has been published on Residence’s website, with signatures including director of the Tobacco Factory Theatre Ali Robertson, Theatre Bristol’s Katie Keeler, artistic director of the Bristol Old Vic Tom Morris and Guardian theatre critic Lyn Gardner who said that “the current explosion of work in Bristol has a lot to do with the mutually supportive environment of Residence”.
Assistant mayor Simon Cook told the BBC that the council is “very supportive” of the group and recognises the “enormous contribution it makes to Bristol’s thriving art scene”.
However, he added that “the property is in a prime city centre location and we must realise the potential to achieve best value, now more so than ever”.
He said the council was “fully committed to finding a solution, which accommodates the needs of both the collective and the council”.
Tweeting back to Cllr Cook Residence said: “If Bristol wants to be a ‘creative city’ then where else would we locate our artists but in those ‘prime’ locations?” and “BCC say ‘prime city centre location’ is why we’re not 1st choice. Guess it depends what u want in ur prime locations?”
An e-petition has currently 681 signatures and is due to close on Friday.
Photo credit: Residence
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