WHAT WE DO

Artspace Lifespace is an arts charity managing unique venues to provide affordable spaces for artists to make, develop and showcase their work. We offer a mix of artists’ studios and space to hire for exhibitions, filming, events, rehearsal and independent retail across our Bristol venues The Island, The Vestibules, Broadmead XP (The Galleries), Sparks Bristol and the Arts Mansion in North Somerset.

Serving the Bristol arts community since 2006, we became a registered charity in 2016, specialising in revitalising forgotten spaces on a meanwhile basis. In addition to providing affordable room for artists, we provide consultancy to professionals such as architects, planners and developers who are committed to regeneration focused on community need.

Any profits from earned income are reinvested back into sustaining the organisation and supporting our creative community. We are funded by Bristol City Council Cultural Investment Programme, Garfield Weston Foundation and The Nisbet Trust and have been supported by Arts Council England to carry out projects such as Futur Ville, We are from Dust Sculture Park and putting the ‘Art’ back in the Department store at Sparks Bristol. Other previous project funders include Awards for All, Architectural Heritage Fund, Historic England, the John James Foundation, the Postcode Lottery and Quartet.

We advocate strongly for the arts in the South West. Through our Residency Programme, the facilitation of network meetings and lobbying, we support individual artists and organisations across all sectors and art forms.

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SPACES TO RENT

We have a wide range of rooms to hire over our four buildings.

You might be looking for a large community meeting space in Sparks Bristol , grand rooms at the Arts Mansion or police cells at The Island. Take a look and help us to continue our charitable purpose of providing support and space to the creative community.

Whether it’s film locations, training spaces or messy art studios, we have the right room for you.

Spaces to Hire
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COMMUNITY OF CREATIVES

This month’s Creative Spotlight is on Island Circus Space member Olga Kaleta.

Olga completed a mini tour of her show Period Drama this autumn, premiering at Small World Theatre in Cardigan and sharing the work at Aberystwyth Arts Centre. She is currently taking a break until the summer to focus on finishing her master’s in Dramatherapy. The Welsh tour will resume in summer 2025, with plans to tour the show in England as well.

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LATEST NEWS

  • 🎄Artspace Lifespace December 2025 Newsletter 🎄
    It’s been an amazing year at Artspace. We’ve got more treats in store for the final month with a New Year’s Eve party, poetry, dancing snowmen and a Global Gift Fest. Read all about it here.
  • In Memory of Norman Routledge
    It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Norman Routledge.I first met Norman when he made an unsuccessful bid for Jacobs Wells Baths. Undeterred, he went on to take on The Mount Without, saving it from ruin and transforming it into one of Bristol’s loveliest venues, which generously supports Impermanence Dance […]
  • 🎈Artspace Lifespace November 2025 Newsletter 🎈
    TEXT AND MOVEMENT WORKSHOP Join Dust Ensemble for this energetic, playful and creative workshop, an opportunity to increase your creative flow through an embodied practice. Aimed at creatives: storytellers, movers, dancers, musicians, and visual artists, to foster collaboration and openness to the creative process. Through individual, pair-work and ensemble-based improvisation scores in response to themes […]
  • Artspace Lifespace Bids Farewell to The Vestibules After Eight Years
    Exhibition Spaces at City Hall to close following unsuccessful bids to raise private investment After eight inspiring years of creative activity, Artspace Lifespace will bid farewell to The Vestibules, marking the end of an important chapter in the charity’s support for Bristol’s artistic community. Opened in 2018 with the support of former Mayor Marvin Rees […]
  • 👁️ Our Artspace October Newsletter has landed 👁️
    Our spooky mansion comes to life, The Island Gallery celebrates black beauty and Sparks Bristol hosts International Repair Day in our October Newsletter.