Francisco MarreroJames NonhebelEmily DannSami Pring

Foreword

Timeline

About Spike Island

Transition

Spike Island Today

Foreword

Timeline

About Spike Island

Transition

Spike Island Today

Sleeve

Sleeve B

Page 04

Page 08

Page 14

Sleeve

Sleeve A

Page 04

Page 08

Page 14

Index

A

B

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About Spike Island

Spike Island started from a small project set by a group of artists. Their mission was to set a practical studio space where artists can happily work. In 1976 the artist studio project Artspace Bristol was established in the MacArthur warehouse on Spike Island.

During the 80’s Bristol saw a high increase in industrial development. Areas with a harborside such as Spike Island had high value when it came to finding a location for a new factory. In 1991 a developer purchased the Artspace warehouse with the intention of demolishing the building and redeveloping the site.

Artspace campaigned to find a more secure, permanent building which they could work in. They were successful.

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About Spike Island

Artspace managed to raise a considerable amount of money for their new building:£400,000 from public fund raising£1.2m from the National Lottery fund.

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Transition

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Many artist studio initiatives emerged in cities all across the UK during the 1970’s. Artspace Bristol was initially inspired by the success of Space studios in London.

Artspace bought their new building in 1996. It was a decommissioned tea-packaging factory previously owned by Brooke and Bond. After a couple of years of construction Spike Island began running an active gallery programme, initiating many artist residencies and large group exhibitions. However, this is not the same Spike Island that stands today.

After 2006 it was decided that artists did not need the studio space due to the digital age. Further structural re-development took place.

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Transition

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Transition

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Transition

The combination of the promise of the Associate Programme and development of an ongoing public programme enabled Spike Island to raise £2.25m to start a second period of development.

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Transition

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The building was re-launched in 2007 as a centre for production and exhibition of contemporary art and design. The building was opened out to create wide-open spaces with high barrel vaulted ceilings. Painted white, it became a large blank canvas for people’s artwork to be displayed. Its glass roof was shattered and capped so the natural light could not change the viewer perspective of displayed artwork.

Transition

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Spike Island Today

The Residency Programme expanded dramatically. Spike Island has exhibited artists and photographers from all across the UK and the world. The gallery programme has allowed Spike Island to become a thriving public building. The gallery attracts eager viewers everyday. Spike is considered one of the most impressive gallery spaces in the UK. Those lucky few who exhibit within the walls of Spike see it as a proud accolade in their career.

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Spike Island Today

As well as forming a major part of an exciting hub of creative and cultural activity amongst Bristol’s Harbour Side community Spike Island provides workspace for over 200 people. It also gives rein to 300 undergraduate fine art students from the University of the West of England.

The gallery keeps itself going by receiving public funding and by renting out parts of its space to art-related businesses. It also contributes to the education of fine art by providing studio space for students from The University of the West of England. Spike still receives financial aid from the National Lottery. The arts are one of the core good causes supported by the National Lottery. Since the National Lottery began in November 1994 it has injected around £2 billion into the arts. The South West of England Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) also contributed towards the funding.

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Spike Island Today

The building also features a tasteful café that serves refreshments and foods to its visitors and tenants. The café has a cultural yet modern atmosphere.

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Spike Island Today

It has contrasted a lot from what it was in the 60’s. The deafening sound of machinery has been transformed into quite clinks of cutlery but with the strong smell of tea and coffee remaining.

Spike Island Today

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Spike Island also remains a community hub offering people chances. The tea-packaging factory gave working class people a chance. The workplace had a friendly atmosphere. The factory was not all about work, it boasted after hour sports teams including football and snooker. The life of this building has been about helping the people around it.

Spike Island Today

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The history of the building lives on: the walls and floors bear many visible scars where the heavy machinery once stood, and its past is remembered both by the local community and the artists who currently occupy the space.

Francisco Marrero

James Nonhebel

Emily Dann

Sami Pring

ResearchLayout Designs

ReseachSleeve DesignCopywriting

ResearchCopywriting

Research

Content sourced from Spike Island Archives.Special thanks to Charlotte Hetherington.

L1 BA(Hons) Graphic DesignUADABM- 20- 1- Professional Practise in Graphic Design 1Wk 3 Project 6Studio E