Krowji - The Old Grammar School

Temporary studio spaces - Guidance notes

Introduction

These studios are available on a short-term basis as part of the project to develop the former Redruth Grammar School site on Blowinghouse Hill into a vibrant creative community and Cornwall’s foremost sector-based business cluster.

The intention is that the site will provide accommodation for most of Cornwall’s key strategic cultural and creative industries projects.  It will integrate up to 70 creative workspaces with business support and information, advice and guidance services for practitioners and creative businesses second to none in the country.

The site has been acquired from Cornwall County Council by Cornwall Arts Centre Trust; some temporary refurbishment has enabled a number of organisations to occupy several buildings on site.  These include Creative Skills, Cornwall Arts Marketing, Carn to Cove, Miracle Theatre, Cornwall Film Festival, Creative Unit and ProjectBase. 

Negotiations are under way with CPR Regeneration, Objective One, Kerrier District Council and the Regional Development Agency to enable the major capital refurbishment scheme to go ahead, but this is not likely to involve work on site until summer 2008 at the earliest.

The studios

In the meantime, we have a number of studio spaces available which we are now seeking to let to practising artists.  The studios are in various locations on site and vary in size; the majority are shared by between two and four people.  They all have 24 hour, 365 days access, natural light and electricity, as well as access to some office services by arrangement.  We regret that these most of these spaces have poor disabled access; all studios in the new development will be fully accessible, but it’s not feasible with the present temporary lettings. 

Tenancy agreements will be on easy in/out terms and will be inclusive of cleaning and maintenance of common areas, electricity & water charges and business rates.  For tenants with particularly heavy electrical use e.g. kilns we’ll negotiate extra charges if appropriate.

Charges are in the region of £7 per sq ft per year plus VAT.  We’re still in the process of agreeing business rates with the local authority and so we can’t absolutely commit to that figure at the moment, but it’s likely to be about right.  So a 10’ x 10’ space would be 100 square feet which would cost £700 per year or £14 per week, roughly.

If you would like to download the studio application form, please click here

If you would like to download studio guidance notes , please click here