Hi Jess,
To be honest there has been very little progression since the meeting. I'm unable to progress without funding, and funding opportunities for such things seem to have shifted focus elsewhere. I've approached an alternate funding organisation, but unfortunately they lost my application, meaning another 6 weeks until I find out if that's successful.

In summary, it feels like the project will end up dragging its heels until the Meanwhile lease is in full operation anyway, thus negating my summer plans to get it off the ground.

I'll email you the business proposal. That lays out the plans and the required funds. In summary, I've estimated about £2000 to refurbish / fit electrics and lighting, and another £2000 to kit it out appropriately to a self sufficient project.

will see what I can do......

BTW: just for info. I do not know if this is the case in many Council policy documents, but I notice that Kensington & Chelsea's Community Strategy (2008-18) in secn 2 on Culture Arts and Leisure, Aim 2 (v), as part of develping excellence in artistic practice, explicitly states (p25) "encouraging innovative approaches to temporary use of vacant premises or spaces which may suit a wide range of art forms such as visual arts theatre, dance or designer-makers"
http://www.rbkc.gov.uk/KCPartnership/general/community_strategy2008-18.pdf

Helen

No I am not in Guatemala - it was just a joke, but I want to go there and sometimes wish I was there so I thought I could use the virtual ning world to pretend I was...

As for the gooseberries I grew them and as far as I know there is no rule that says I have to use a mug shot!!



I joined though because I have a shop front which for some 15 years has been a changing art installation. It attracts quite a lot of good vibes and even gets fan mail and Xmas cards so I am interested to see what other people come up with. Jon and I only do our displays to provide visual interest (and I would argue safety as it is lit and it not roller shuttered) for pedestrians. We keep it anonymous otherwise I know from the post and door knocking we get that artists would want to use it to display their work and it is an anti-consumerist statement (ie you can look and enjoy but you cannot buy). I know, I am just an old hippy..

Lorraine

Here's something I just came across from Herne Hill in S London. Know about it?
http://www.liveattheapollo.org/?page_id=4

Looks like it's just ended....but active through June 09

Hi Jess. We're negotiating with the owner of an empty shop unit in Ladywell to see if he'll let us use it for 9 months initially and we've offered him 6 months rent upfront which we're pulling together from the community. He was saying he'd like to sell but the curernt climate isn't good and he can always sell it afterwards so he can't really lose. If we're successful we'll need funds to refurbish the shop and some help with the short lease or licence. I'm in touch with Eddie and have asked if anyone from 'meanwhile' could come and see the building/talk to our group
By the ay Lewisham Council have been pretty useless on this so I'd be interested to hear of a Council acting proactively on meanwhile that I could point them to...
Tony

Plenty of shops but not sure whether empty - I will peruse over w/e whilst sorting my attic out...... I haven't had a chance yet to explore this site so still not sure what its about???

Just had a look at other comments on this - there are 'pop-up' shops in Camden that have just materialised in vacant properties - funded by local business community and council I believe

I'm one of the local councillors for Ladywell, where Tony (below) and others are keen to get a meanwhile use for one of the empty shops. Dilemma is that in one case the shop is in a very bad, pigeon-infested condition and would need quite a cash-injection to bring it back into use.

I think Tony is already working on that, but I'll check with him . ..

Hi Jess,

I was wondering if you could possibly offer me a little help.

I am looking for a vacant retail space in Hackney or Lewisham to turn into a art gallery/studio space which would also be used to run community art projects. Initially i would be looking for a 'meanwhile' lease with the potential to extend this into a full lease if the project is successful.

I am in the initial stages of planning and will be hoping to put together a business plan and applications for funding from the Arts Council and other organisations.

How do actually go about applying for a Meanwhile lease? and who do initially contact with regards to my proposal?

Many thanks.

David

recognise this person? now director of eden arts in Cumbria...http://meanwhilespace.ning.com/events/call-for-artists-for-empty xxx

Hi Jess. Fruit Market is a large strategic meanwhile use project geared at making use of a large number of vacant properties that were acquired by the public sector in anticipation of a major project with a developer which hit the tracks during the start of the credit crunch. We are engaged by Hull Forward in attracting creative end users to the first wave of properties and anticipate meanwhile use for at least 3 years, some of which will, we hope, become part of the future of the area. Interesting ideas are developing around protecting some meanwhile uses in the long-term.

I sent a little info on the project to Ed and gather he has contacted Liz at Hull Forward this morning for more background.

It's a little early for publicising the project widely - we want to secure the agreements with the first wave of occupiers first. However, I think it is a very significant meanwhile use project which has attracted a lot of interest in Hull. 130 people attended our workshop. 25 parties returned stage 2 proformas and have been interviewed. We are making progress towards the first occuppiers being in place (inlcuding some very interesting and newly formed social enterprises) in Spring. Some of these parties will be seeking some rant funding for modest fit-out costs. If you have any leads, let us know.

Do let us know about Showcase as dates become known so we can make a judgement about whether the project is at the right stage to be put forward.

Paul

Lewisham Council are being quite stunning in their ability to block meanwhile use. we have the shop, still witing for the lease to be signed over, but hurray it is progressing and i optimistically hope it will be with us at the end of the week.
but as for change of usage planning application, we are now being held up by the need to produce a flood risk assessment, when our planning application does not include any new walls or additional bits, but is just about who goes in there and what they will do when they are in there
we are working hard on this- which is frustrating
but soon we hope to work on the fun stuff that comes from having a meanwhile shop

Hi Jess, Yes it's an old coroners court/school house in St Pauls/Stokes Croft area of Bristol. It is a large gothic pile and at some point soon, probably the new year i will need help with the building. This will probably be cleaning the place, maybe some minor cosmetic work and then sprucing. I have yet to take on the license for the building (which i'm looking to meanwhile for help with) as i've still got technical and legal implications to sort out. Let me know if this sits with what yo are looking to do, speak soon, Paul

I did - thanks it was useful.

 

We've agreed we should be taking forward a series of discrete projects aimed at exploring ownership. Less on property/assets per se but there may be some ideas we come to the group on especially around meanwhile offices. In the meantime we are open to intermediaries looking to help scale and grow social ventures through our SVI Fund....http://ow.ly/3VRe3