Shabby shops - perfect blank canvasses for South Tipp artists
South Tipperary is no different to counties all around Ireland – the recession has taken its toll on small businesses and as most struggle to get through it, some have unfortunately failed, disappeared and have left behind empty shells with weary window fronts.
These shops are symptomatic of the shreds of the disastrous economy that we are trying to mend together; closures represent unemployment and the once cared-for exteriors, now tatty in their appearance, represent a pessimistic view of the future. But for a group of optimistic and creative people in Clonmel, these shabby shops have the potential to become so much more.
Art Hive, a group of professionally trained artists and craftspeople based in South Tipperary and formed in 2009, believe that these empty premises can be put to good use in a number of ways. But for them specifically, they are seeking a home for Art Hive and believe that one of these empty spaces could be transformed into a studio space where they can work and also, an exhibition space where they can showcase their creations to the public. The idea of transforming empty shops into creative spaces is certainly not a new one in Clonmel town. Two years ago the organisers of the Clonmel Junction Festival devised the Cafs Carte Blanche idea, where they occupied a number of empty shops for the duration of the festival, painted them, decorated them and turned them into literature, art, dance, film and writing cafs where members of the public could visit, browse, chat, participate - or not - if they wished. In fact it was so successful that Cafs Carte Blanche returned again this year, with a few new additions and with very impressive interior design touches, adding life and vibrancy to a number of streets in the town.
Another example of an unoccupied building being put to good use in Clonmel is The Common Thread Cafe on Gladstone Street. This delightful, colourful and fun shop front is the face of a community space run by artists and arts lovers which aims to involve people from all walks of life in conversations and activities, the majority of which will be initiated and curated by them. This is a caf with a difference, you do not pay in the traditional sense but can instead make contributions in the shape of services, skills, cash or in-kind donations.
Art Hive is currently comprised of eight artists: Deirdre Delamere; Bill Doyle; Aisling Egan; Emer Lynch; Ian Mannion; Violetta Pserackaite; Dennis Ryan and Brigid Teehan who work across a number of disciplines including printmaking, ceramics, embroidery, mixed media, sculpture and photography. They too have embraced this idea of temporary occupation of buildings in the name of art, curating a pop-up Christmas exhibition in the former shop called Chess Clothing in Market Place. The group also organised an exhibition as part of the fringe events of the Junction Festival this year when they turned a former mobile repair shop into a gallery for the duration of the festival. This was very successful and the group are now seeking a premises, on a more permanent basis, in which to base themselves, their ideas, their work and their exhibitions. Chairperson Brigid Teehan, mixed media artist and sculptor and her husband Ian Mannion, who specialises in mixed media and painting were the instigators of Art Hive.
"We have two children, no space but a lot of creative buzz in our home so we thought, why not advertise for other artists to come together and see if we could get a studio space where we could work and exhibit," explained Brigid.
A short time later several artists, with similar goals, got in touch and Art Hive was formed.
"So we have a number of aims, we want to develop a working studio space for artists in Clonmel and surrounding areas, and to create a space with the potential for interaction and collaboration amongst artists and media," she explained.
But the high costs involved in renting a premises, combined with commercial rate charges, overheads and all the other associated expenses, mean that Art Hive are currently not in a position to find a studio space – at least not one that they have to pay for just yet.
"The average wage for an artist about j14,500 per year, so it is very hard to make money from it and unless you are practicing art and making art, you are not an artist," said Brigid. So Art Hive are proposing that they, as a professional group, would acquire a shop unit that has been lying idle for some time and transform it into their space.
"Perhaps the landlord could allow us to take on a care-taking role of their property, with low to no rent," explained Brigid.
According to Art Hive, there are several advantages for owners of vacant premises, if they chose to do this.
"There are many positive things that we could bring to this space, we would paint it, look after it, keep it clean.
"The building would be more secure, potential renters or buyers would be attracted to it because it would be in use and owners and the surrounding area of the building would be enhanced by artists' studio," said Brigid. Additionally public liability insurance is lower when an unoccupied building is being used. But Art Hive's aims are certainly not self-serving.
"We have other aims such as eventually facilitating community workshops, and to raise the profile of art-making artists through exhibitions, performances, workshops and educational talks."
"We would love to develop talks, share information about what we do and organise artists discussions," said Brigid.
Art Hive are just starting out in their collective artistic career – but are already giving more credibility to the idea that there is 'power in numbers'.
"Art Hive gives me a focus on getting back to making art after having children and as a group you can really do much more. "Artists can practice art-making in a non-domestic environment, they can create positive social exchanges between each other and the communities they work in, and they feel less isolated and more supported."
They have shared their ideas with South Tipperary County Council, Clonmel Borough Council, estate agencies and the arts officer in South Tipperary, with a view to securing a property. And if they are successful in doing so, will then be able to apply to the Arts Council for a grant – but they need the space first.
"They offer a visual artists' workspace bursary, and if we had a space, we could apply for that."
Art Hive are as creative in their thinking about attaining a studio space, as they are in their artistic achievements. They can pay basic costs such as electricity and public liability insurance but if owners of community-based buildings would be interested in providing a space for them, they would gladly offer workshops in a variety of media and techniques to different target groups in-lieu of rent. Or they can simply keep a building occupied and secure, acting as temporary care-takers until the commercial market improves.
This has been done quite successfully in other areas. The Good Hatchery, an art-led initiative in Offaly, is housed in a nineteenth century hayloft. The artists involved placed an advert seeking an unwanted or derelict house for artists to use and renovate and their searching paid off when the response they received granted them permission to move into the hayloft.
Last year in the UK, the 'slack space' movement took off when artists decided that rather than allow the empty units to decay and deteriorate, they could transform them into galleries and studios with bright, breezy and inviting exteriors stimulating the passers-by and creating some imaginative and uplifting aesthetics.
So if you would like to be part of South Tipperary's 'slack space' movement and put your empty premises in the hands - and paint brushes – of our aspiring artists, you can contact Brigid Teehan at brigid.teehan@gmail.com
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Weather for Clonmel
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 12 C to 18 C
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Wind direction: South
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