Community art space for disabled

DISABLED artists will have new studios after an art collective discovered many struggled to find workspaces that suited them.

The collective, A4 Studios, are converting a disused warehouse on Grovesnor Road, Altrincham, into 21 wheelchairaccessible studios, six studios on a mezzanine floor, two gallery spaces and a performance area.

Co-founder and disabled artist John Lockwood realised he had been using his own firstfloor studio less and less because of difficulty climbing stairs. But ground-floor studios are in short supply in Manchester, meaning long waiting lists.

Disused mills, which are often used as art studios, have become prime land for residential development, meaning many local artists face eviction. So John and fellow art professionals sourced the building and drew up a five-year business plan to make the studio complex into a selfsustaining social enterprise.

It will host exhibitions and workshops for the public, including art therapy and classes for homeless people.

“We want to create a community spirit” said John.

“We want everybody to get involved with everybody else. There are too few studios that cater to disabled artists.”

Six studios, costing from £1.80/ sq ft, have been let already.

Go to kickstarter.com/ projects/490370821/a4-studiosproject.