The Honours come in advance of the 30th anniversary of East Street Arts being founded by Karen and Jon in 1993. The Leeds-based charity was established by the two artists after they were unable to find the support and infrastructure they needed to develop their art practice.
Since then, East Street Arts has worked to secure better livelihoods for artists and neighbours, and to address issues of economic and commercial decline in towns and cities. Over the past 30 years, the couple have led the East Street Arts team to offer life support for artists including advice, space, infrastructure, audiences, and opportunities to work.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to receive this award. This is an acknowledgment of the role that East Street Arts has played in supporting artists and the communities in which they live and work. Our staff, volunteers, artists and neighbours have been fundamental in this achievement, and it’s testament to their proactivity and commitment.” Karen Watson
“This is a great honour for us, and for East Street Arts; and it’s especially timely as we head into our 30th year. It’s been an exciting, collaborative and unconventional 30 years and we’re really proud of everything we’ve achieved so far but, as our sector faces unprecedented challenges, we’re not losing sight of the future and making sure that East Street Arts continues to have relevance and impact in years to come.” Jon Wakeman
Other things!
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Artists
I'm Gonna Find You White Rabbit! by Silvia Liebig
Silvia Liebig's artist book I'm Gonna Find You White Rabbit!: Being Beeston Projekt 2019-2023 is now available to buy.
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Event
Reproductive Futures: Creative Workshop
Join artist Herfa Thompson and academic Zoe Tongue to explore your reproductive health experiences, responding to the duo's Reproductive Futures exhibition, in this visual art workshop.
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News
Welcome to our new trustees
We’re thrilled to welcome two new trustees to our Board following a recent round of open recruitment.
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News
Artist selected for Taipei artist residency
Leeds-based artist James Thompson has been selected for a sought-after six-week residency at Treasure Hill Artist Village in Taiwan, from August to September 2024.
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Commission
Making Public Art - a new interview series
We worked with some wonderful artists throughout 2023 to bring large-scale mural pieces to various locations across Leeds. We’ve been catching up with the artists, in a new series that looks at working with communities, sustainability, and their working process in creating public art.
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Artist support
No Going Back: exploring the archives
Here are some of our favourite images from last month's No Going Back exhibition, for anyone who may have missed it.