Leasing a Studio
Studios are let with 24-hour access on a month-to-month basis allowing maximum flexibility for artists. If your circumstances change and you want to give up your studio we require one months full notice (to the end of a calendar month).
As a condition of lease all that we require is:
- 1 month refundable deposit when taking on the studio
- Monthly rental paid by direct debit
One monthly payment includes:
- All heating and lighting costs
- Rates
- Building maintenance
- Public & buildings liability insurance
- Management Costs
- Water Charges
Sharing and sub-letting your space
Studio holders may sub-let their studio for a period of between 6 months and 1 year while away on a residency, taking a career break etc. All sub-lets are managed through the head office and are offered to artists at the top of the waiting list in the first instance. This ensures that studios are allocated as fairly as possible and prevents artists from "jumping" the waiting list.
Studio shares are usually organised by the lease holder themselves. If you are thinking of sharing your studio, please contact the office as soon as possible so that we can issue a studio share form. We need the details of all building users on file for security purposes. As always, all studio shares should also be using the space for the purposes of making visual art. Please note that the leaseholder is ultimately responsible for studio rental. Should the leaseholder decide to give up their space, the lease will not be passed to the studio share unless they are at the top of the waiting list.
Wasps' Non-Use Policy
As far as possible, Wasps aims to allow artists to work in their studio without interference, in their own way and at the times which they choose. We know that many artists fit studio practice around many other commitments and its not our intention to dictate how artists should work. However, due to the length of the waiting lists, it is important that all our studios are being used.
Due to pressure created by our large waiting lists, we see non-use of a studio as a serious issue and have a policy to deal with this which we will be enforcing from January 2006. If an artist tenant has obviously not been using their studio for 6 months or more, the local studio representative or wasps office will make an informal enquiry to the tenant about the non-use of their studio.
The next stage is a written request that the tenant consider giving up their studio or sub-letting for a fixed period of time. If the studio continues to lie unused, the studio holder will be in breach of lease and will be given 28 days notice to give up their studio. The studio will then be let to an artist from the top of the waiting list.
