Cubitt Artists, a key artists-run space in central London housing 32 artists’ studios, has announced plans to leave its current home in Islington this spring. The non-profit gallery and studio space, which has been in situ for more than 25 years, said in a statement that its lease had not been renewed.
Cubitt is now seeking a new home where it hopes to continue providing affordable studios, as well as contemporary art programming and opportunities for early career artists and curators. A a fundraising campaign is due to launch later this month.
Helen Nisbet, the director of the Glasgow International festival of contemporary art, said the closure of Cubitt is “awful news”, adding that a curatorial fellowship undertaken there was “life-changing”. Jennifer Higgie, the former editor of Frieze, wrote on social media that Cubitt is an “important and brilliant space”.
Artists sincluding Tomma Abts, Helen Cammock, Tacita Dean and Dexter Dalwood have all exhibited at Cubitt. Dalwood told The Art Newspaper that he was a Cubitt member for more than 20 years.
He said: “It has resisted a load of pressure to expand by outside people who told us many times we weren't doing it right. But it allowed Cubitt to do what it did best—focus on running an interesting non-profit exhibition space, with an open application for a change of curator every 18 months, keeping the cost of studio rent for its members as low as possible.”
According to its mission statement: “Cubitt is an artist-led co-operative built on a belief in the value of art and artists in society. Cubitt enables contemporary visual arts practice to thrive as a critical, peer-led activity.” The venue has also run numerous community-led projects for young people and older residents.
