The Space by AZM operates as a Community Interest Social Enterprise supporting creative, cultural and public-facing opportunities for creatives and creative enterprises.
Its work will include the development, production, hosting and promotion of exhibitions, pop-ups, art residencies, curated opportunities, public programmes, showcases, mentoring activity, professional development, and paid press or representation support where this advances community benefit and creative opportunity.
The CIC supports fashion designers, artists, visual artists, musicians, interdisciplinary creatives, cultural practitioners, performers, makers, creative start-ups, independent brands and other creative businesses or initiatives, provided the activity remains consistent with the CIC’s community purpose.
The Space by AZM CIC may also operate subsidised, supported or access-based opportunities where resources allow, including reduced-cost or scholarship-style support for selected creatives who would otherwise face barriers to participation, visibility, market access, professional representation or public presentation of their work.
Who The Space by AZM CIC will help
The company will benefit creatives, artists, visual artists, musicians, designers, fashion brands, cultural practitioners and early-stage creative enterprises, particularly those who face barriers to access, visibility, professional support, industry knowledge, networks, income generation or public-facing opportunity.
The company may also benefit audiences, local communities, creative participants, cultural partners and the wider public through exhibitions, events, pop-ups, creative residencies, public programmes, workshops, talks, showcases and other cultural activity that expands access to creative work and strengthens the cultural life of the communities served.
How the company’s activities will benefit the community
The Space by AZM CIC’s activities will benefit the community by widening access to creative opportunity, enabling more inclusive routes into cultural visibility and professional development, and supporting a healthier creative ecology in which talented people and small creative ventures can develop, present and sustain their work.
Its activities may generate public benefit by creating accessible exhibitions and events, supporting cultural participation, strengthening independent creative practice, encouraging enterprise and self-employment within the creative industries, and helping under-supported creatives reach new audiences, collaborators, commissioners, stockists, media or buyers.
The company will operate with clear governance, record-keeping and decision-making processes so that support, subsidised opportunities and paid services are offered in a disciplined, fair and transparent manner consistent with its community purpose.
Examples of practical activities
Organising exhibitions, installations, pop-up activations, showcases, performances, launches and cultural events.
Running artist, designer or multidisciplinary residencies and curated opportunity programmes.
Providing paid press representation, communications support, campaign support, event production, or visibility support for eligible creatives or creative businesses.
Providing supported or subsidised access to PR, mentoring, showcasing, exhibition space or professional development where resources allow.
Hosting workshops, talks, portfolio reviews, mentoring sessions, networking activity, industry guidance or creative-enterprise support.
Developing partnerships with venues, media, buyers, curators, producers, educators, community organisations and other cultural stakeholders.