Speaker: Heather Steed

About: Lewisham Art House

Lewisham Art House is in its 13th year; formed in 1992, based at the old Deptford Library, (listed building, once a Carnegie library), thus hard to persuade people to take it on, but the Arthouse co-op built the public spaces, print-room, workshop into the building. Provides artists' studios, a gallery, workshop space, provides an extensive education program; has charitable status (which is useful for business rates). Carnegie built libraries to benefit poorer, by encouraging self-education; beautiful libraries to bring the public in; the Arthouse continues these ideals.

Studio space hire is part payment and part work-hours; each member has to do so much per month, counts as debt if you don’t. Benefits the community through workshops, outreach projects, etc, done with peoples time essentially, the Arthouse is providing an unsubsidised art centre.

What MAKES it successful:
Dedicated to being a non-profit organisation
Unpaid Work-hours benefiting people
Strength of infrastructure: tightly organised

Artists have workspace (which can be shared with another associate); everyone has a say, pays their rent, does workhours. Pay an administrator. There are Subgroups, who take on an area of responsibility in the Arthouse (e.g. gallery, funding, grants, finance, workroom, allocation, maintenance, including the positions of Chair, Secretary, Treasurer); all members must attend 4 general meetings a year. This organised system lets the Arthouse take on ambitious projects. Good location; Between Goldsmiths and Lewisham College, Lewisham Borough Council (LBC) aims to develop art, to develop the borough's reputation. Attempts at being more commercial have been rejected: lose benefits of organisation, higher rent would lose economically challenged members, art's financial success not a good measure (e.g. Van Gogh).

In 1994, Arthouse members provided 2000 community hours, 80,000 worth of renovation, 130,000 in fundraising, thus with additional funding, able to extend the provision of the centre; the Arthouse has a good understanding of what the community wants. The advantages of being a Co-op: artists can network, exhibit more often, take part in Deptford X, Brockley Max, exhibit locally in borough. Arthouse provided the financial umbrella/ springboard for the first year of Deptford X, initiated by Arthouse member. Arthouse provided 3,000 voluntary workhours, which would have cost LBC £240,000 and £100,000 in paid admin costs. Thus, half million pounds saved by doing on voluntary basis.

Those coming to classes can go onto Art school, those who attend gallery sometimes offer artists work , members learn skills from voluntary work, Jobseekers have worked at Arthouse, those working at the Arthouse go on to teach at adult education institutions; classes increase public use of building. Member who was a mosaic artist has gone on to do full-time restoration. Art students join the Arthouse for the cheap rent, thus keep artists in the area, to stay and work. Supervise how spaces are used, attendance monitored, spaces put to good use, not abandoned, thus let people have access to the in-demand facilities. Gallery supporting Artability (disability), women’s art groups, Black History Month, Goldsmiths MA students, Arthouse fundraised for disability access and toilet facilities, only local art centre catering for them, 30% who attend classes come for that reason.