Bristol DIY Arts Network

Artspace Lifespace is a member of The Bristol DIY Network – an independent gathering of arts organisations and arts practitioners, large and small, funded (Arts Council, Bristol City Council) and unfunded, all of whom deliver cultural programmes within the city of Bristol.

We meet regularly to advocate for the sector and to discuss and inform policy, as well as forming working groups in response to specific issues and to develop shared activity. This thinking feeds directly into the wider cultural conversations happening at a high level in the city through the One City Culture Board.

The group’s members work across different scales and different artforms; some specialise in participatory opportunities, others seek out an audience; some charge, some don’t; and some provide complex programmes that sit across a number of strands.

Together, we are committed to the successful future of our city, and the creativity of both Bristol and Bristolians.

Members of the DIY Network also meet in smaller working groups to focus on relevant areas. A recent example of a working group is the Keep it Arms Length campaign being organised by members of the Bristol DIY Arts Network. As a result of our work leading the DIY Arts Cultural Spaces work group, Artspace Lifespace held the Futur Ville Summit in 2019.

Bristol DIY Network members include Arnolfini, Artspace Lifespace, Bristol Beacon, Bristol Old Vic, Bricks, Design West, Field Art Projects, Knowle West Media Centre, Bristol Culture, Room 13, The British Paraorchestra and Friends, Zion, The Trinity Centre and many others including independent artists.

If you are an independent artist, practitioner or smaller organisation unable to attend a meeting, you can share ideas, views and concerns with us via Theatre Bristol who help to administer the group, or one of the members. The DIY Arts Network may be able to assist those who are independent and not funded by an organisation to attend with a bursary, particularly in working groups and sitting on the committee. If this is you, please contact us via Eloise at Theatre Bristol (eloise@theatrebristol.net) to discuss your requirements.

If you would like to find out more, please get in touch for more information via eloise@theatrebristol.net

If you would like to receive updates from The DIY Bristol Network you can sign up to the mailing list here.