City artists in battle to save studio

Jun 22 2007 By Neil Elkes, Birmingham Mail

BIRMINGHAM'S claims to be a city of culture and creativity have been branded hollow after council bosses pulled the plug on studios used by 150 artists.

The Birmingham Artists group of painters, sculptors and printworkers faces eviction from its Lee Bank-based studio after losing a £55,000 grant to cover the rent and service charges.

It is feared the withdrawal of funding will drive working artists out of the city centre and away from Birmingham after the current lease deal ends on Sunday.

The council's leisure and culture department has paid the its property department to allow the Birmingham Artists to use studio space, including the city's only non-commercial print workshop at the Lee Bank Business Centre.

Birmingham Artists say they were given just one month's notice to quit and are fighting for an extension to find new premises.

The council says it told Artists board members months ago, but the Artists deny this.

Mark Renn, a sculptor, described the move as "cultural asset stripping".

He said: "Our members fly the flag for Birmingham nationally and internationally as well as working with Birmingham communities and schools."

He added that the eviction could also lose the city business as he uses local firms to construct and fabricate pieces.

"If I am forced to move to another town, I will use firms local to my new studio."

A spokeswoman for the leisure and culture department said officers are helping the Artists find alternative funding and have given them a month's extension on the studio.