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Welcome

The studios toolkit is designed especially for artists thinking of setting up some kind of studio facility to:

• envision what it is you want to achieve
• deconstruct your initial vision through an options appraisal, reconstruct it

and then:

• outline how you might achieve your vision
• start the process of risk � and reward � assessment
• gradually match your gut feelings with a planned approach to project development.

In particular, The studios toolkit outlines the initial processes of establishing a studio � this is the most daunting stage and the point to which problems that surface later can be traced back.

It doesn�t tell you what to do. It describes a process that enables you to ask yourself:

• What do I want?
• What do I need to do to make that happen?
• Am I on track with that?

The writers

Mike Franks is an architect-planner who has been designing and developing workspace projects in the UK and elsewhere for the last thirty years starting with the award-winning Clerkenwell Workshops. His projects place particular emphasis on central management and tenant participation.

David Butler is a writer and researcher. He is Coordinator for Life, Work, Art the professional practice programme for fine art students at the University of Newcastle. Between 1987-1999 he was an Executive Director of a-n, editing a number of handbooks and steering the Round Midnight symposia in 1996. In 2003, he was co-director of Interrupt: artists in socially engaged practice, a series of symposia that took place throughout England.

Conditions of use

Disclaimer

The studios toolkit can only offer guidance and information of a general nature and not on specific situations. Neither a-n The artists Information Company nor the authors can accept any legal responsibility to users of The studios toolkit for the contents thereof.

Copyright

© 2004 Text: Mike Franks and David Butler, iTool: a-n The Artists Information Company

All rights reserved.

Artists who are current subscribers to a-n may download or print this text for the limited purpose of use in their business or professional practice as artists.

Parts of this text may be reproduced either in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 (updated) or with written permission of the publishers.

Objectives

The studios toolkit pages will enable you to :

• get through the critical early stages of setting up a studio without needing paid input from others
• acquire confidence to steer through the later, more intensive funding and implementation stages - you are embarking upon an entrepreneurial process
• know how to use professional and expert advice - this means differentiating between doing something yourself or causing it to happen.

Using the toolkit

Collectively, everybody in your group should be encouraged to use these web pages so that you can work your way through the questions and information individually.

Comparing your different responses will help you to clarify the Initial vision and acquire a group cohesion and discipline.

Each section has sub-sections within it. Work through them in an systematic way, but try not to get caught up in too much detail, particularly on one component at the expense of others.

In the early stages you need to develop a clear overall picture and an awareness of the relative vulnerability of your assumptions. If one issue seems more sensitive to change, or less well understood compared to others, pay more attention to it before moving forward.

Considerations

Every scheme is unique and the earliest stages rely on a leap of faith. The studios toolkit is designed to gradually help you add discipline and professional method to this process.

Remember:

• all projects are 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration
• buildings can be assets but they can also be tyrants
• you need to achieve a subtle balance between a disciplined approach and trusting your judgement
• all successful projects rely on both blue-sky creativity and disciplined control
• you should learn to know what you don't know - that is to expect the unexpected.

The five stages

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1. Vision

This section looks at finding common ground and a shared view of what is wanted and needed to give an agreed set of aims and objectives.

At this stage you don't need to think about money, buildings, legal status etc. You just need to consider what you want to do.

At this point there are no restrictions on you except your imagination and intuition. Nobody is telling you what is or isn't possible except yourselves.

2. Appraisal

This section looks at analysing your vision and turning it into the beginnings of a practical proposal through an appraisal of various options.

This gives you a planning brief setting out the broad spatial / legal / financial / timescale / and partnership aims.

You have to do a good deal of research at this stage, collecting information on potential funding, amount of space needed etc.

3. Feasibility

This section looks at using your planning brief (A planning brief includes: vision; environmental context; identificating risks and rewards; available resources; broad brush costs; purpose of building; potential sites/buildings; structure of the group; some idea of timescale. It is used to construct the model scheme.) to devise a model scheme (A model scheme is constructed from your planning brief. It provides a basic means of testing and adjusting your vision. It is not highly detailed and may be simply a written outline of assumptions with diagrammatic drawings outlining space, number and mix of users, costs, rent levels, demand, technical requirements, potential funding, etc. You can, and should try to, construct it yourself and only where you are stuck get relevant professionals to look at it. Their views can be part of the testing process.) to test the overall practicality of your vision and its sensitivity to change.

You will use your testing to devise a development brief (The development brief is the framework of instruction to the different specialists or professionals you as the client will use to carry your scheme forward (eg architects, surveyors, solicitors). The purpose of the development brief is to give the maximum freedom of imagination to professionals (eg architects, accountants) but maintain your vision and purpose.) that sets out a framework and guidelines governing the contractual and construction process.

4. Design / Build

This section looks at developing a detailed design based on the broad parameters set by the development brief, (The development brief is the framework of instruction to the different specialists or professionals you as the client will use to carry your scheme forward (eg architects, surveyors, solicitors). The purpose of the development brief is to give the maximum freedom of imagination to professionals (eg architects, accountants) but maintain your vision and purpose.) followed by the securing of permissions, formulation of draft agreements, contract and agreement signings, physical development and occupation of site.

5. Sustainability

This section looks at occupation, the start of filling the building and developing a settled pattern of use.

This is when your early assumptions become reality and you can re-examine your project by asking questions about the future, implementing long-term objectives set in your planning brief (A planning brief includes: vision; environmental context; identificating risks and rewards; available resources; broad brush costs; purpose of building; potential sites/buildings; structure of the group; some idea of timescale. It is used to construct the model scheme.) (eg. developing a gallery programme), considering re-financing and further fundraising, and, paying back any loans or sweat equity.