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 and the Bristol City Council Arts and Development team, The Vestibules has hosted exhibitions, performances, pop-up cinemas, and art markets across its two unique spaces on Park Street and Deanery Road.

In recent years, however, rising operational and security costs have made it increasingly difficult to sustain The Vestibules as a hireable events space. For the last two years, Artspace Lifespace managed the venue primarily as an artist residency space, providing opportunities for emerging and socially engaged artists, and paying for the management of the space from their charity’s reserves.

Continuing to run The Vestibules would have required funding or private investment to cover essential costs such as staffing, marketing, insurance, and accountancy. On average, a two-week residency costs the charity around £700, while regular hires cost approximately £300 to support. Artspace Lifespace had also been exploring funding opportunities to establish a £2,000 graduate artist bursary, enabling new artists to stage their first exhibitions in line with Artists’ Union England recommended rates. “Artspace Lifespace is the ideal place for any emerging artist; they really brace the artist for the competitive art world by giving adequate support while still giving room for you to self-discover and experiment” said 2025 Artist Resident Bolarinwa.

“We’re incredibly proud of what The Vestibules has achieved,” said Kathryn Chiswell Jones, CEO at Artspace Lifespace. “It’s been a platform for experimental, community-led and socially engaged art – unfortunately something that’s not easily supported by private investment models. We’re grateful to the Bristol City Council Arts & Events team for their efforts to help secure a sustainable future for the space.”

Artspace Lifespace also expressed concern about the growing expectation for charities and arts organisations to rely on private investment to support socially engaged or developmental arts work.

“Socially engaged practice and early-stage artist R&D aren’t inherently investable,” added Kathryn. “We hope that future arts policy continues to value the role of public support in ensuring freedom of expression and accessibility in the arts.”

Despite the farewell, The Vestibules’ creative legacy will continue. Artspace Lifespace is delighted that Coe Gallery will maintain a seasonal exhibition programme in the space, while the Pride Hub will remain based at The Vestibules with ongoing support from Bristol City Council.

“For the past three years, Artspace Lifespace has been a vital supporter of Coe Gallery’s exhibitions at The Vestibules, a space we’ve proudly called home during this time. Since 2021, we’ve hosted seven exhibitions at The Vestibules, which have become our staple summer and winter shows. At the heart of our programme is a focus on Aboriginal art and the space provided by Artspace Lifespace has allowed us to introduce these important artistic voices to wider audiences, fostering educational dialogue and cultural diplomacy. Their support has not only empowered us as curators and artists, but also enriched the wider public’s access to meaningful, often underrepresented, cultural narratives. Their role in supporting artist-led activity is not only crucial for creative practitioners, but also for the broader public, who benefit from a rich programme of free, diverse, and accessible exhibitions. We are incredibly grateful for everything Artspace Lifespace has done and we strongly advocate for the continued support and funding of organisations like theirs, who directly serve the cultural life of our cities.” said Jasmine Coe, Founder of Coe Gallery

“We’re thrilled that The Vestibules will continue to host the annual Pride Hub and Coe Gallery, which is the UK’s first Aboriginal owned gallery supporting and celebrating emerging and established Aboriginal artists. It’s been an honour to play a part in the story of the Vestibules,” said Ayan Cilmi, Vestibules Coordinator.

“As we mark the closure of the Vestibules, we want to extend our sincere gratitude to the many artists, organisations, community groups, students, and collaborators who brought creativity, conversation, and connection to this space and acknowledge and celebrate some of the incredible projects, residencies, exhibitions, performances, and partnerships that helped shape the spirit of the Vestibules”:

A Celebration of Modern Romania,

A Community Shelter

A Life, A Presence like the Air

Amy Densley UWE Exhibition

Amy Hutchings and Anna Haydock-Wilson 

ArTex

Ben David Jenner & Emily Lucas 

Ben Meller 

Bolarinwa (Residency)

Boomsatsuma

Bristol Arts on Referral Alliance 

Bristol Community Land Trust

Bristol Boycott Exhibition by Curiosity Unltd

Bristol Pride Hub

Brush and Biro 

Brook Tate 

Changes Bristol 

Children’s Participation In City Spaces

Chris Rydlewski 

Circus City at The Vestibules

Coe Gallery by Jasmine Coe

Creative Shift Arts on Referral 

Daisy Hunter (Residency)

Displace – Synecdoche Art

Dolores Belovitch (Residency) 

Esmé Miranda Perriman 

Eva Millauer (Residency)

Festive Vestibule Pop Up Market

Freya Morrill 

Going, Going, Gone 

Harriet Porter 

Jack Stilling 

Jamie Lee (Residency)

Jenni Stuart 

Jessie Beurs 

Karen Thompson – UWE 

Katie Marland (Residency)

Martha Kelsey (Latte Leninism)

IC Visual Lab

Lost and Found

M2 AIR SHARE

Matthew Brown Bristol University 

Mihai – Nu Nu Theatre Installation

MMM.. Culture Hospice Care Fundraiser

MouthWash

Near Death Experience 

Ollie Habermehl and Ethan Byrne 

Presca Sustainable Sportswear Pop-Up Shop

Pride Hub

Rachelle Aaronson R&D (Residency)

Romanian Contemporary Art 

Startup Stories 

Stokes Croft Land Trust 

Stories of carers (unpaid), (Residency)

Tabitha Gammer residency +  

Tangible Memories Parlours of Wonder

The Killing Kind Filming

This is Us – Tina Gue (Residency)

Thomas Astley 

Unlocked 

UWE Design students  100 year anniversary of council housing 

UWE Photography Students

Whose Future – Rising Arts (Residency) 

Yuko Edwards 

…and many more

“Artspace Lifespace has led The Vestibules with extraordinary vision and dedication. Over the past eight years, they’ve transformed these spaces into meaningful platforms for Bristol’s artists. Their commitment to nurturing emerging talent and creating accessible opportunities has made a lasting contribution to the city’s creative landscape,” said Elise Hurcombe, Arts Development Manager at Bristol City Council.

Please sign up to the Coe Gallery Newsletter for updates on their upcoming exhibitions at the Vestibules https://coegallery.com/blogs/news  Anyone interested in hiring the Vestibules directly can do so by emailing Bristol City Council Arts & Events Team cityartsfunds@bristol.gov.uk.  

If you are a private investor, wanting to support socially engaged and residency artists through the work Artspace Lifespace does, please get in touch with Alice Newton, Charity Operations Manager – alice@artspace.uk