Sunderland artists' studio almost full as new team takes over

Broadside Creatives Comunity Interest Company (CIC) has added the building in Nile Street, Sunniside, to its buildings, with studios already run in Norfolk Street and John Street.

The additional 15 workspaces have passed on to Mark Burns Cassell, VIncent Todd and Jamie Allison run by Creative Cohesion, led by Anne and Roger Tye and their daughter Kat, who transformed the once Lada showroom into a creative space.

Within days of announcing Broadside, almost all of its spaces have been taken by artists, with five contracts signed within 24-hours, with the building to help support ceramicists, musicians, potters, fabric artists and more to make, learn and teach.

The building has disabled access, with one glass artist planning to set up her own community interest company which can be used by people who need a space to channel their creativity, with social distancing guidelines in place for tenants.

The extra space means Broadside Creatives now runs 40 spaces for people to run their operations, with its work also helping people turn their hobbies, talents and passions into a career, with courses also run by the team.

The CIC plans to make some improvements to the building, with its mentoring service to continue, helping people apply for funding to support their work, with £90,000 accessed for Wearside projects within the last eight weeks.

Mark said: “Anne, Roger and Kat have done a great job through Creative Cohesion for the last decade, bringing some fantastic things to Sunderland, including international residencies and collaborations with artists and we're looking to take that mantle on.

“We have been absolutely overwhelmed by the interest and delighted so many people have been in touch.

“We’re going to bring a lot of life into the building and we want to help make Sunderland a real hub in the city centre for artists.”

The organisation is the sister project of Norfolk Street Arts and MBC Arts Wellbeing.

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