Artists Deserve More Than Just Stop-Gaps: Reflections from our ‘Vacant Space’ scheme

I’ve been thinking a lot recently (probably too much, to be honest), prompted by the sudden and abrupt end to our use of Willcox House—7 days notice by phone! It’s frustrating, but unfortunately, not new. This isn’t the first time we’ve been forced out of a space with little warning, and I know it won’t be the last. 

Still, each time it happens, it raises the same old questions: why are artists—who bring so much life, creativity, and energy to these empty buildings—treated like temporary stop-gaps? Why are artists the ones who get booted out the door the moment something ‘more profitable’ comes along? It just feels like artists are always getting kicked down, asked to leave before they have even unpacked.

Acknowledging the opportunities and the catch

Don’t get me wrong, initiatives like our Vacant Space programme provide real opportunities. Since 2015, we’ve activated over 200 properties across England and Wales, supporting over 1,000 artists and engaging tens of thousands of people. And the thing I’m most proud of? At Axis, we always start with the local artist. That’s what sets our approach apart. We’re not just filling spaces for the sake of it; we’re giving artists the chance to transform them into something meaningful. It’s their space to make their own.

I want to give credit where it’s due: some landlords really do recognise the potential in opening up their empty commercial properties for creative use. Those partnerships can be a lifeline for artists, providing access to spaces that would otherwise be completely out of reach, where artists can take risks, show their work, and engage with the public, all without the crushing weight of commercial rent or overheads. And when it works well, it’s amazing! These spaces come alive with energy, and that energy spills over into the wider community.

But here’s where the frustration kicks in: far too often, these spaces are seen as nothing more than temporary fixes, a way to cut costs and reduce liabilities. Sometimes, it’s not even about finding a new tenant. It’s just about dodging business rates or preventing properties from becoming derelict. And when landlords use tactics like rate mitigation schemes, or they let buildings sit in the hands of shell companies, it’s clear that the goal isn’t meaningful use, it’s about numbers on a balance sheet. Artists are being used as stop-gaps, nothing more, while communities and local economies miss out on the lasting benefits these spaces could provide.

Is there not a civic duty for landlords to utilise these empty commercial properties for the greater good? In Barnsley, for example, using a former tax office building, we built a community of nearly 100 artists (nobody knew there were that many artists in Barnsley), which lasted just over 2 years before the building was later converted into flats. You’d think that sounds like progress, right? Except now it appears most of those flats sit empty. The artists? They’re scattered because we haven’t been able to find another space, and honestly there are lots of empty properties in Barnsley.

The reality for artists

I wish I could say this kind of thing doesn’t happen all the time, but for many of the artists we work with, it’s the same story over and over—constantly battling affordability, sustainability, visibility. Vacant Space provides a form of lifeline, it gives them the platform they need to thrive, even if it’s temporary.

We’ve seen first-hand how these spaces foster community and collaboration. SHIFT and tactileBOSCH in Cardiff turned unused retail and office spaces into vibrant multidisciplinary creative hubs. In Leeds, Freehold Projects (after being kicked out of their previous studio) transformed a three-floor retail unit into a buzzing project space that became the Index Festival Hub (a fringe festival during Yorkshire Sculpture International). In Coventry, we hosted the Coventry Biennial group show in a former NHS building. These artists don’t just occupy space, they transform it, filling it with energy, creativity, and life. But it’s hard, and it shouldn’t be this hard. Artists shouldn’t have to rely on luck and temporary solutions just to find somewhere to create and connect with their communities.

What if..?

But let’s think bigger. What if landlords saw artists as essential contributors to the future of their buildings, their neighbourhoods, their communities? What if empty properties were viewed as more than just financial burdens to be offloaded?

Imagine a world where artist-led hubs had permanent homes in our towns and cities. Not just temporary spaces for the odd exhibition or workshop, but permanent places where creativity becomes the heart of the community. Places where local people come together to create, learn, and collaborate, not just until the next commercial tenant shows up, but for good.

These spaces could become cultural landmarks, shaping and representing the identity of the neighbourhoods they occupy. And the best part? Artists wouldn’t have to worry about being kicked out as soon as someone with a bigger cheque comes along. Instead, they could build something lasting, something meaningful that grows with the community.

A call to action

So, here’s the challenge to landlords, property owners, and developers: it’s time to think differently. These properties are more than just a line item on a balance sheet—they hold potential for something far greater.  Artists bring value, not just to your buildings, but to your neighbourhoods, your communities (yes, even if your interests lie offshore). It’s time we all started recognising that.

Stop treating artists as temporary fixes. Your empty properties could become the foundation for something transformative—a place where creativity, culture, and connection come together for the benefit of all. Supporting people and fostering local culture doesn’t just create meaningful, lasting change, it makes good financial sense too. After all, if financial return is your goal, it will follow when you nurture spaces where creativity and collaboration thrive.