AN ORGANISATION which aims to provide affordable studio space for up-and-coming artists has become a victim of its own success by outgrowing its current premises.

Artsite Studios, which is based in the old post office near the Wyvern Theatre, is hoping to secure an additional space upstairs from the council in order to give more aspiring artists the studio space to exhibit their work.

But since being founded almost 18 years ago, Artsite has been inundated with studio requests from artists and until recently, they have been so over-subscribed that many people are now on a waiting list.

Sally Taylor, one of the founders of Artsite and a trustee, hopes that by more people becoming aware of their struggles, it could help their quest of getting the additional space above their current premises.

“We want to expand further and open up a café space and try and regenerate the area even more and have space for people who are doing degrees but then have a space to exhibit their work when they come back after graduation,” she explained.

“We have gone from having four to five spaces to 10 to 13 and we have the Shoebox Theatre space as well. We have never had any trouble filling those spaces. It is a shame that we get so many emails from people leaving university but want to come home and put their work in our studios but we have to say not at this time. Instead they have to go on the waiting list which is growing.

“The proposal we put in for the council to look at was for this other space upstairs to be turned into an affordable studio for emerging artists but also people interested in graphic design.”

Currently Artsite, run by artists, provides 13 studio spaces for artists and craftspeople but it is hoped that number will increase if the additional space is secured from the council.

Sally adds that the next step for Artsite is to put in an Arts Council bid for funding in order to deliver their intended programme if their attempts of securing the extra space is successful. This would also help pay for part time staff to oversee the running as currently, everyone involved in Artsite is a volunteer.

“Swindon has always been about bringing people in and I think that is how we feel at the moment,” she said. “There are a lot of empty spaces and the town centre needs regenerating which we have been a part of for the last nine years. This issue needs to be highlighted because we have been banging our drum about it for a while. You need these empty spaces to be opened up for creative people that add to the community and culture of the town.

“At the recent meeting regarding the museum and arts gallery, Robert Hiscox said that where artists go, people follow and we know that has happened when you look at places like the east end of London. It would be lovely to have this here and we are always looking for supporters.“We have a long history to show that this project works for people in giving them the confidence to go out to work and we have a very good sustainability with the studios that underpin the ethos of why we need more space.”