Extraordinary Art in Ordinary Circumstances
BasementArtsProject has spent the last thirteen years delivering a programme of high-quality artistic activity in one of Leeds’ most deprived areas.
Over this time, we have worked with hundreds of artists; under and recent graduates, early/mid-career, established, local, national and international. Whilst we have provided numerous exhibitions here in Beeston/Hunslet, South Leeds, in the process creating an oasis of calm and quiet amidst the chaos and madness of the inner city in the form of ‘The Corner’ Pocket Sculpture Park, we have also taken artists work to foreign climes such as Sweden, USA, Germany, Greece and Lisbon, and in the UK, Manchester, Liverpool, Colchester and London.
Next year we aim to bring our closest collaborator SLUICE Expo/Magazine to Leeds. Artists that have worked with us have gone on to develop work for Edinburgh Fringe, The Venice Architecture Biennale 2017 and, in the case of Dominic Hopkinson, become a member of the Royal Society of Sculptors and Delaine Le Bas, a shortlisted artist for the 2024 Turner Prize “Build It They Will Come”.
At the heart of ‘The Corner’ Pocket Sculpture Park stands ‘Jacob’s Ladder’ by Artist/Sculptor Keith Ackerman, a 9ft, 6.75tonne sculpture in Tadcaster Limestone. A labour of love begun just before lockdown, and therefore taking three years to complete instead of one and a half, it stands as a testament to our belief that art can make a difference to society. See a 90 second clip of events at Jacob's Ladder here.
Funded by the artist and his technician, the Henry Moore Foundation, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Leeds City Council, SlungLow and G Gibson& Son Tools, Jacob’s Ladder has transformed a small piece of land that had become a magnet for anti-social and illicit behaviour into a garden used by the community, many of whom do not have access to private gardens, as a place to let the children loose, have lunch or just hang when the weather is good.
We have many more public art projects for the area at different stages of progress that we aim to finish over the next couple of years.
Running To Stand Still
Such is the nature of areas of impoverishment like ours, things are balanced on a knife edge. Recent drug house closures locally resulted in ‘The Corner’ and surrounding streets being inundated with drug dealing, prostitution and many other forms of extreme anti-social behaviour. After a council and police campaign to clear the area, it has taken a concerted effort to return things to what passes for mostly normal. Recently I have taken on the position of Chair for a newly formed Tenants & Residents Association in an attempt to keep on top of such relapses. In order to be able to move from the clean stage to that of hold, we must be able to provide a sense of hope and aspiration which is what BasementArtsProject seeks to do.
“Please Sir…”
I used to fund the vast majority of this from my wage as the receptionist of the Henry Moore Institute along with the artists with whom we worked. As I am no longer in paid employment due to my decision to come home and work within the community, the place where my calling truly lies, this method is no longer viable.
We are continually applying for funding in the form of grants but in the current climate successes are few and far between. We are currently looking into other ways in which we can raise money such as corporate sponsorship and subscription services.
If you are able to assist BasementArtsProject in any way to help keep the lights on and the door to our communities open and free to the public, here are some ways in which you can do so:
HYPOGEAL: is our online magazine with free/weekly £3.50/monthly £35/yearly/Foundational £100+ subscription options available more here
Private Donations via PayPal more here
Corporate Sponsors: If you are a business with a corporate responsibility structure and an interest in cost-effective grassroots societal/environmental improvement through art then please do contact bruce.davies@basementartsproject.com I would be happy to meet with you, present our ideas and discuss the possibility of how you can benefit by supporting us.