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S1 Artspace is a not-for-profit artist-led organisation based in Sheffield, England, presenting an annual programme of contemporary exhibitions, commissions, screenings and events. S1 Artspace also provides studio space for over twenty contemporary artists at varying stages in their careers, from recent graduates to established artists working at an international level. Based in a former industrial factory building in the centre of Sheffield, S1 Artspace is home to a 260sqm atrium-style gallery, an arts library and reading room.
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S1 Artspace is a nationally recognised organisation, renowned for providing a platform for experimentation and for supporting the development of new work in a wide variety of media through artists’ residencies, commissions, and an annual studio holders exhibition. Over its sixteen-year history, S1 Artspace has presented work by over 300 artists and accommodated over 100 artists through its studios from Martin Clark, artistic director at Tate St Ives to Haroon Mirza, Northern Art Prize and Silver Lion Award Winner at the 54th Venice Biennale in 2011.
History
S1 Artspace was founded in 1995 by a group of Sheffield-based artists including Neil Conroy, Steve Dutton, Percy Peacock, Lesley Sanderson and Julie Westerman who were seeking to create a sustainable studio environment in Sheffield City Centre. The organisation evolved under the direction of its artist member base and it continues to adapt in response to shifts in current practice. The project space was initiated through a series of exhibitions organised by the artists at S1 studios who were aiming to provide a platform for new work and ideas.
In 2002, S1 Artspace was awarded a Regional Arts Lottery grant towards developing a pilot programme of exhibitions that led to the appointment of the organisation's first curator, Michelle Cotton, in 2003. In 2006, Louise Hutchinson took on the role of Curator, continuing to develop the exhibitions programme as well as leading S1 Artspace's relocation to new premises in 2010. S1 Artspace continues to be run under the artistic direction of Louise Hutchinson, with Pippa Shaw, Programme Coordinator, Chloe Reith, Communications & Studios Coordinator, and Jeff Baker, Technician.
In 2010, S1 Artspace moved to new larger premises to support a growing commitment to its international exhibition programme. Recent exhibitions include Eva Berendes, People and Events will be the Decoration, solo exhibition commissioned by S1 Artspace, A Three Penny Opera, featuring Mark Wallinger, Cara Tolmie, and 2011 Turner Prize winner, Martin Boyce, and hosted Bloomberg New Contemporaries in September 2011 in collaboration with Site Gallery, Sheffield.
So far in 2012 S1 Artspace has presented a solo exhibition by Jennifer West entitled Aloe Vera & Butter, the 6th S1 SALON film and video screening series, A Peculiar Form of Fiction in collaboration with Sheffield Doc/Fest, and a two-month gallery residency with sculptor Keith Wilson.
Mission
S1 Artspace is a site for production. The organisation supports the production of new work though studio provision, production facilities and an exhibitions programme that has a strong commitment to commissioning new work. Previous commissions include solo exhibitions with Haegue Yang, Eva Berendes, Jennifer West, George Henry Longly, Giles Round, Sean Edwards, and Pil and Galia Kollectiv.
S1 Artspace is committed to creating and sustaining an active arts community locally and aims to extend that nationally through the S1 Associates programme. S1 Artspace supports an active studio group of artists at all stages of practice, and creative businesses such as The Designers Republic, Article Magazine, Hantu Collective, Ogle Films and Yorkshire Tee who are also based at S1 Artspace. The organisation provides production facilities and resources to artists based locally.
S1 Studios
S1 Artspace is the only studio and gallery organisation in Yorkshire to commit all of its artists's studios to contemporary fine art practice. Facilities include an open-access wood workshop, arts library and reading room. The studio complex is based on an open plan layout to encourage and sustain a committed community of artists and to act as a platform for critical exchange, dialogue and collaboration.
Current studio members include James Clarkson, Jamie Crewe, Joseph Cutts, Natalie Finnemore, Jerome Harrington, Jim Howieson, Hannah Knights, David McLeavy, Charlotte A. Morgan, Emily Musgrave, Jade Richardson, and Roanna Wells.
S1 Artspace runs a Bursary Studio programme in connection with Sheffield Hallam University through which the organisation supports four graduates with an annual six-month programme of mentoring and subsidised studio space, culminating in a group exhibition. S1 Artspace also provides studio spaces for Sheffield Hallam University Fine Art Practice Phd students.
S1 Artspace has been praised recently in the national press for providing low cost studio spaces for artists and has been described as 'the hub of the burgeoning art scene in the Steel City’ by The Guardian and as 'integral [to] supporting young artists to international success' by The Independent