Call to use unused spaces for artists

Camden Palace Community Arts Centre has launched an initiative to connect artists with owners of urban centre properties who are prepared to rent them at below-market rates as artist studios.

The project called Negative Space is appealing for assistance from owners of city centre properties who may have empty or underused upstairs space by making it available at a reasonable rent for artists.

Speaking to the Cork Independent, Dave McCarthy of Camden Palace said: “One of the biggest challenges facing artists is lack of space. A lot of them work at home in their parent’s houses or with their partners which is very unsuitable, and they might suffer a great deal from isolation from other artists.”

“When people work together in close proximity, there’s a tremendous energy around that and it encourages people to be more daring, creative and it helps to motivate them. It also gives a sense of community and peer support,” he said.

Dave explained that Camden Palace hopes to raise awareness among property owners of the untapped potential of their spaces to support artists. “Renting out what might in their eyes be a shabby first-floor room can be a golden opportunity for an artist. It could mean the difference between staying with the art or giving up,” he said.

While Camden Palace is currently on the road to fundraising to buy a collective space in the city, until the centre can supply artists with the space required, they are asking property owners to bridge the gap.

“It’s one-off spaces we are looking for. And typically, what we would be interested in is spaces over ground floor businesses like shops,” said Dave. “The upstairs is frequently lying empty, and it’s a waste of a resource. Even if it only brings in marginal income to the landlord, it will help the fabric of their building but also it will help the artist which is invaluable,” he said.

Having been located in four premises for over 14 years, Dave says that Camden Palace hopes to find its permanent home in the near future.

“We have looked at several properties on Morrison’s Island and we have narrowed it down to a few,” he said. “It’s a very hard decision to go and buy a place. It takes a huge amount of money and trust building with potential donors and sponsors. We have started the fundraising and we are very happy so far with the support we have received. But the next phase is going to be very big where we are going be raising the big money. We hope to have a new location by September 2026, it’s three years from now and it’s a notional date but it’s good to have a target,” he added.