POP Studios is a placemaking project delivered by Talia Giles with support from Bedford Creative Arts that will transform vacant retail space into productive, affordable town-centre workspaces for creatives. 

Bedford has a thriving ecosystem of artists and creatives but has absolutely zero studio space available to serve its fast-growing community.  We want to change that and help connect and home artists in empty retail spaces, initially on a temporary basis with flexible terms, but working towards more permanent options.

In our beautiful market town, we have plenty of incredible space but most of it happens to be set aside for retailers and min 3-year terms. Funnily enough, in this climate, they all remain empty (and there are currently over 50 vacant units in Bedford town centre). 

 

5D THE ARCADE

In January this year, whilst searching for a premises to house POP Bedford, Talia Giles managed to self-fund a temporary shared studio space along with three other artistts in a large, long time vacant first floor office unit.

A three-month licence agreement was used thanks to a progressive landlord who was willing to take a chance.

With the artists breathing new life into the space, Kirby Diamond managed to secure a permanent tenant not long after we moved in.

POP STUDIO4

Our newest shared artist studio space situated at 4 The Market Hall, The Arcade, Bedford, MK40 1NS

Through the same landlord, this has now led to a semi-permanent space in The Arcade. This momentum has presented an opportunity to work on realising a second temporary space that we hope will be ready this summer.  

 

Already, through the support network and creative hive mind that a shared space provides the group of artists in this space have been approached numerous times for exhibitions, workshops, commissions and visit requests from educators such as Bedford College. An early success story. 

If you are interested in studio space in the town centre either as an individual or a collective, please get in touch using our contact form.

 

Giacomo Verdura receiving his keys to POP STUDIO4

Sculptural work by Anne-Marie Abbate created in POP STUDIO4

 

Landlords & Agents - We can help

If you control an empty unit in the town centre we can provide exhibitions and pop-up activity as part of a rates mitigation scheme or simply as a way to keep your unit looking clean and attractive whilst its vacant – deterring vandalism & fly-posting. 

We can ensure that your agent’s details remain prominently displayed throughout with a professional window vinyl and you can continue to undertake viewings whilst the space is being used. By using a Licence, it means you can terminate at short notice as soon as a tenant is agreed.   

If you’re able to offer a unit for an arts exhibition space or a creative pop-up programme or shared art studio under a license, or short-term lease agreement, please contact our Founder Talia Giles popbedford@gmail.com to find out more.

 

Artist Fiona Wilson

L-R: Artists Anne-Marie Abbate, Fiona Wilson, Talia Giles & Giacomo Verdura

Inside POP STUDIO4 with work from Giacomo Verdura and Fiona Wilson (L)