2020
Bricks – St Anne’s House
By
Synopsis
Bricks is a social enterprise with a mission to support local and creative communities to thrive. We believe that access to cultural infrastructure plays a vital role in enlivening communities, ensuring attractive and sustainable neighbourhoods, and supporting positive urban growth.
In 2020, Bricks was granted a lease from Bristol City Council for St Anne’s House – a vacant 2,400m office building in St Anne’s, Bristol. Driven by in depth consultation with the local community, the building is now a vibrant home to artists, designers, makers, creative and community organisations, social prescribers, therapists, music labels, community and creative events and sessions, and theatre producers.
Please note that this project was not funded through Bristol’s Public Art Planning Policy but is being featured as an important case study for securing cultural infrastructure for creative use in Bristol.
Description
St Anne’s House offers welcoming and affordable workspaces and studios to rent, rooms to hire, community events, meet-ups, and Bricks programmed events in response to the ambitions set by local residents and St Anne’s Action Group.
Grounded in community connection and driven by local need, you can find social groups, meet-ups, workshops, talks, exhibitions, and events happening regularly at St Anne’s House, with the focus on engaging and starting conversations.
Tenants are varied, from massage therapists to gourmet mushroom growers, from print artists to town planners. The building offers communal events and spaces for tenants to interact, to learn from each other and to seed ideas for developing their practices and businesses further.
As a community, we bring local people and creatives together to shape their vision for the future of their neighbourhood.
“This building is undergoing huge changes as a fledgling multi-use arts facility. Overseen by 'Bricks' it has some great spaces in the making. Studios, residency rooms and performance spaces. Bricks aims to turn St Anne's House into a special place for both the artistic and wider community.”Andrew Harris, visitor
“Such a creative and inspiring place! So much going on”Claudia Collins
Further Reading:
Bricks is a Bristol-based charity working with creative, local and social enterprise communities in and around the South West. We programme collaborative activities & secure permanent spaces in the city to build sustainable futures. We believe in the civic role of artists & that through collaboration we can have a strong voice to influence the growth of the city.
St Anne’s House is a space to make new things happen as a community. The venue is run by us and is to test creative ideas and bring people together.
Bricks Public Art Producers support land developers to connect with local and creative communities, through the delivery of bespoke and locally lead public art and cultural infrastructure programmes.
