Artists facing studio relocation express concerns over future rent affordability

Artists from Lansdown Art Studios, Cheltenham’s largest artist collective, are advocating for affordable rental rates as they prepare to move into a new facility. Their current studio, located on the Lansdown Industrial Estate in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, is slated for demolition. This relocation is part of a development plan approved by Cheltenham Borough Council, which grants permission for developers to construct 215 residential units on the estate, alongside a new, purpose-built art studio within the same area. Artist Tony Davie emphasized the importance of maintaining the current artistic community. He stated, “We have a wide spectrum of people here, including young artists, and it would be very good to retain that when we move.” Mr. Davie further explained their efforts, adding, “We’ve been working very hard to impress on the developers that we need an affordable rent so that we don’t lose the diversity of the artists that we’ve got at the moment.” Both the developer and owner, Cheshire Pension Fund, along with Cheltenham Borough Council, chose not to comment on the subject of rental prices, citing ongoing negotiations. Andreea Dragne, an artist who has resided at Lansdown Art Studios for five years, described her time there as a transformative experience. She remarked, “It’s more than a studio, it’s a beautiful family that inspires and supports me. Being surrounded by such talented artists has boosted my confidence, not just as an artist, but as a person and a foreigner.” She further characterized the space as one where “creativity grows, and connections are made.” Dragne concluded by stating, “Cheltenham truly needs this creative haven to keep nurturing artists and the community alike.” Mike Duckering, who chairs Lansdown Arts Studios, commented that it is “tremendous for artists” to collaborate within the shared environment. He noted, “There’s this atmosphere in the whole building that this has always been an area for artists and artists’ endeavours.” Duckering explained the collective’s decision, stating, “But we’ve had to take a pragmatic view on the whole proposition and we felt it was better to create a new building elsewhere on the site rather than fight to the death to save our current studios when we probably, ultimately, wouldn’t succeed.” Cheltenham MP Max Wilkinson has offered his support to the artists throughout their discussions with both the council and the developers. He asserted, “The right thing is to retain a community of artists to reflect the history and heritage of the site.” Wilkinson highlighted the primary concern, adding, “Now, the big challenge for us is to make sure the studio is affordable for the artists, otherwise the new building will end up probably repurposed for something else.” He concluded by emphasizing, “So it really is in the hands of the council and the owner of the site to work together to get this over the line.” The opening of the new studio is anticipated for 2025.