TOUR OF THE ISLAND (free - no need to book)

A unique opportunity to partake in a guided tour lead by The Island staff and volunteers of this early 20th century police station. Tours will take place on: Sat 9th Sept 11am, 1pm & 3pm & Sun 10th Sept 12 noon & 2pm. The meeting point for tours is the entrance to The Island on Nelson Street, in front of the big wooden double doors.

ALL EVENTS ARE FREE ENTRYPREVIEW NIGHT: Fri 8th Sept 6 – 10pm /Gallery Space

OPEN STUDIOS WEEKEND: Sat 9th & Sun 10th Sept 10 – 4pm.

@islandbristol #Islandbristol #IslandOpenStudios

The Island Open Studios (Open Studios 2017)

INTRO We are delighted to bring you a full programme of engaging events for The Island Open Studios, as part of Bristol Doors Open Day. A full weekend of events giving locals and visitors the opportunity to look behind closed doors and discover Bristol’s hidden treasure.

bristoldoorsopenday.org.uk

The Island welcomes visitors to explore the old Bridewell Police Station, now home to over 120 artists, music production studios, Gallery, Theatre, Dance and Circus Training space. It is one of the liveliest artist communities in Bristol and the South West with artists continually producing and showcasing new and engaging work.

OPEN STUDIOS WEEKENDERThe Island artists open their studio spaces for visitors to experience their disciplines within The Island. Expect a bustling weekend, as individual artists host an array of workshops and performances from within their studios.

The Island will be running scheduled historical and present day use tours of the space which will include access to the Old Police Cells.

Industry and artist talks, dance and circus taster classes plus art and sound installations & pop up events will be occurring throughout the complex over this open studios weekender.

THE ISLANDThe building that houses The Island was built in 1928 and opened as a police station in November 1930. It closed as a working police station in August 2005.ArtSpace LifeSpace took over the disused Bridewell complex in 2007. It hosted spectacular 1,000 capacity events run by volunteers and affiliates of ArtSpace LifeSpace and The Invisible Circus.

In 2008 ArtSpace LifeSpace transformed the site into it’s current incarnation; The Island, an art space and creation centre.

Share your experience of #IslandOpenStudios on Twitter and Facebook.

STUDIOSThe Island houses over 40 artists studios to around 100 artists working in a huge range of disciplines. Having a studio at The Island is a great opportunity for a city centre workspace and provides the opportunity to be involved with a unique creative community.

GALLERYOur Gallery is a large white walled space with a huge amount of natural light perfect for showing artwork, performances and holding large meetings.

DANCEThe Dance Space is a large and naturally lit studio with a specially fitted Harlequin Allegro dance floor. A host of professional dancers run classes ranging from ballet to Beyonce inspired Jazz!

LOCK-DOWN STUDIOSLock-Down studios is a small network of converted cells and interview rooms now used as music studios. Lock-Down tenants work in the areas of multi-media and music technology.

FASHION STUDIOSStitch-Up Studios is a sewing workshop space. Freelance artists benefit from shared resources, 24 hour access and opportunities to work creatively together. Sewing classes cover a range of skills from pattern cutting to embroidery.

CIRCUSOur Circus Training Space provides room and equipment for aerial and floor work. Classes cover many disciplines including corde lisse (rope), lyra (aerial hoop) and silks. Members have exclusive daytime training time, classes take place most evenings.

BASEMENT VENUESituated in the former cells, Police motorbike car park and training yard our Venue offers a unique industrial aesthetic. The Basement is popular for immersive performance, visual arts, filming and music events.

SPACES

THURS 7TH SEPT6pm: Vanessa Ocoro - University placement at The Vestibules Vanessa will talk about her work placement experi-ence at the newest Artspace Lifespace project The Vestibules, what drew her to the role and how the experience has expanded her own practice.

6:45pm: The Sad Ghost Club’s Guide to creative business with Lize Meddings Lize Meddings started the Sad Ghost Club in 2012 with a single zine and very little business knowl-edge. Making comics about mental health journeys has gone from a small side project to a fully fledged business. Find out how it all started and some tips for turning a creative project into a full time job.thesadghostclub.com

7.30pm: Stitch-Up Studios - Lois Jackson-BakerStitch-Up Studios is a sewing workshop space and a hub for practitioners. Designers and makers benefit from shared resources and working creatively togeth-er. During the talk there will be the the opportunity to talk to members and view the premises.theislandbristol.com/spaces/stitch-up-studios/

FRI 8TH SEPT6pm: Danny Habitus Habitus is a Beatmaker, Mc and Dj from The Canary Islands based in the city of Bristol (Uk). He is the founder of Dusty Sounds, a recording studio based at The Island that focuses on the 90’s Hip-Hop sounds with tactful Jazzy and Funk atmospheres.habitus.bandcamp.com

6:45pm: Abigail Burt Artist Abigail Burt will discuss her bronze casting practice and the plans for her upcoming residency where a piece will be publicly created, cast and dis-played within the building.thesadghostclub.com

7:30pm: Kimberley Withington - Filthy Squirrel Clothing Kimmi will discuss the creation of her international street and leisure wear clothing brand, Filthy Squirrel Clothing and suggest helpful tips to upcoming fash-ion designers. The Island Open Studio launch night will begin with a showing of her recent ‘Ethereal Obscurities’ Collection.

The Island tenants are known for a playful and ener-getic approach to their creative practices. Their exhi-bition will showcase many of the painters, performers, photographers, fashion designers and musicians cre-ating work within the building.

Curated by Flo from 24/7 Jam and Izzy and Heather from Old Moth Studios.

Our Exhibition launch takes place on Fri 8th Sept, 8pm - 10pm

Danny Habitus will be keeping the beats spinning with a mixture of tunes from his recent record release Un Viaje Al Alterego with Aneeway Jones.

THE ISLAND TENANTS GROUP EXHIBITION

GALLERY

SAT 9TH SEPT12 – 1pm: CapoeiraCapoeira is an Afro-Brazilian art form which combines elements of dance, play and ritualistic fighting. Capoeira is the perfect exercise, combining strength training, flexibility and aerobic exercise accompanied by live music and singing. Led by Claudio Campos.bristolcapoeira.com

1 – 2pm: Modern danceDance class based on Martha Graham and Lester Horton techniques with focus on creating strength, flexibility and increase the connection and under-standing of your core. Led by Herbert DesLauriers.

2 – 3pm: Beyoncé inspired commercial danceShake your hips, flick your hair, strut, jump, kick. Simple, yet high energy choreography inspired by Beyonce’ and her music videos, learn to move and groove with ATTITUDE AND SASS. Led by Julia Graziani.

TASTER CLASSESFREE – no booking required.

Always wanted to try out a new dance, circus or fitness technique but weren’t quite sure what to expect? Taster classes will be 45 mins in duration, followed by a 15 min opportunity to talk to the dance, circus or fitness teacher. Please make sure you dress appropriately for the dance classes you wish to attend.

SUN 10TH SEPT12:30 – 1:30pm: Introduction to Ballet Always wanted to try Ballet? This taster class will offer a fun, step by step introduction to Classical Ballet technique and vocabulary. The class will comprise of a short Barre and basic centre work.3rdstagedance.com

1:30 – 2:30pm: Fitness PilatesA modern research based workout based on the teaching of Joseph Pilates. This workout is challeng-ing yet safe building strength from the inside out by targeting deep postural muscles to improve muscle tone and give you great posture. Exercises are non impact and performed in standing, seated and lying positions with the focus on body alignment and core stability. Mats are provided. Led by Lucy Eyre Facebook Fitness Pilates Bristol

2:30 – 3:30pm: Ki AikidoKi Aikido, an enjoyable exercise combining natural flowing movement with a non-confrontational men-tal attitude. Led by Pete Bailiekifederationofgreatbritain.co.uk/uk-clubs-directory/name/bristol-broadmead-ki-aikido-club/

Facebook: Bristol Broadmead Ki Aikido Club

DANCE

FRI 8TH SEPT4pm - 5pm: LAVRAK Work In Progress LAVRAK are creating a new work to present at Bristol Circus City 2017. They will explore concepts of success, what it means to us as individuals and the measures we take to achieve or appear successful through theatre, dance, aerial, hula hoop and live music in a free scratch night.

SAT 9TH Sept12:30pm - 1:30pm: Bristol Circus Fitness A fun, fast paced, music fuelled, circus circuits class incorporating acrobatic and aerial technique, conditioning and flexibility. A good introduction to circus for complete beginners and an opportunity for skill specific conditioning for current circus students.Led by Donna MacLean. Facebook event page: Bristol Circus Fitness

2pm - 3pm: Vertical Aerial : Rope and SilksA fun class for people wanting to get to grips with aerial silks and rope. Techniques are similar for both pieces of circus equipment. Have fun transferring and comparing climbs, figures, moves, rolls and drops. Suitable for beginners and more advanced aerialists. Led by Laura Murphy.

CIRCUS ABOUT

ABOUT USThe Island is a self-funded multi use arts facility and creations centre in the old Bridewell Police Station.

From our initial beginnings, taking on the entire Island block in 1998, the project has developed into the thriving creative hub in the Bristol city centre.

We have maintained our ‘can do’ attitude and kept a space in the arts for people to push the boundaries of their practice and medium, from dance, performance, music, circus and the contemporary arts.

Our open minded attitude is an asset to artists and event coordinators wanting to explore different and unique ways of producing art.

THE ISLAND (Artspace Lifespace)We believe that temporary use and re-use of aban-doned land and buildings helps create dynamic and resilient places in and around our towns and cities.

We consider empty buildings a resource for positive and creative city development. Our ambition is to widen the access to empty buildings in order to help them evolve and grow into open and inspiring envi-ronments for people with great projects and creative ideas.

MISSION

Providing Access, Space, Logistics and Support for a vibrant creative community in Bristol and beyond.© LAVRAK

The Island is the longest running project of Artspace Lifespace, a charity that recycles vacant, under-used and problem properties into thriving creative resources.

Each building we occupy we aim to make sustainable and self-supporting.

All our projects are self funded and promote creativity. We work on developing policies, procedures and administrative systems to support each project to realise its full potential.

JACOBS WELLS BATHSThe Baths were completed in 1889 to serve the working poor in the wards of St Augustine and Hotwells. In 1984 Bristol Community Dance Centre (BCDC) took over the building as a rehearsal, performance and dance space.In September 2016 Bristol City Council approached Artspace Lifespace to offer us use of the building while exploring options for it’s future.

THE VESTIBULESIn 2017 Artspace Lifespace were approached by Bristol City Council to help showcase Bristol talent and give cultural and community groups unique environments to display their work in two new art spaces at City Hall, The Vestibules.

The Vestibules are situated either side of the City Hall on College Green and provide a prime location for showing art from independent and community artists.

SPACEIn partnership with Trinity Community Arts our vision is to provide a local venue to support the creative community in Bristol to showcase work and share ideas.

Based on West Street in Old Market, SPACE is a bright, light gallery and event space, with a large front window. Upstairs The Creation Space is particularly suitable for workshops, rehearsals and small community gatherings..

ARTSPACE LIFESPACE

TOP PICKS

The Island, The Old Bridewell Police Station, Nelson Street, Bristol BS1 2LE

theislandbristol.com | facebook.com/IslandBristol | Twitter: @IslandBristolInstagram: @theislandbristol #islandbristol

Photography inside by Sidz Photography: sidzphotography.com | Brochure design by Jo Dalton: room59.co.uk

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