We are East Street Arts! And, we strongly believe that artists will create positive change in the places they live and work.
A leading arts charity dedicated to providing essential workspace, resources, professional support and opportunities for artists and artists’ spaces, supporting them to develop resilient and sustainable practices and connect with local communities, audiences, and peers across the UK and beyond.
By championing creativity and fostering collaboration, we aim to be a catalyst for change, shaping a future where artists play a central role in building a fairer and more vibrant society.
It all started in 1993 with two artists—Karen Watson and Jon Wakeman—who couldn’t find the support and infrastructure they needed to develop their art practice. From that, East Street Arts was born and, for over 30 years, we have worked to secure better livelihoods for artists and our neighbours, and address issues of economic and commercial decline in towns and cities.
Since registering as a charity in 1998, we have become leaders in the artist-led sector by empowering artists to be self-determined, take control, incite change and influence decision-makers to improve people’s lives and environments.
In 2004, we opened Patrick Studios, which became our base, giving us stability and offering many artists comfortable and affordable studio spaces over the years. In 2022, we opened our second Art Hostel (the first one closed in 2018, following notice from the landlord) next door to Patrick Studios. And, shortly after that, Convention House, our art and technology hub, completed our trio of buildings that form East Street Arts’ forever home on St Mary’s Lane in Mabgate, Leeds.
“As a hugely successful NPO East St Arts no longer share many of the same existential challenges of the majority of the sector they support, but having navigated the terrain over the past thirty years there are few that could mentor the following generations from such a base of lived experience.
“East St Arts understands this and rather than pulling the ladder up after them they expend a lot of organisational energy guiding and supporting others.”
Karl England, Sluice
East Street Arts is a member of the Culture Consortium Leeds, a network of cultural organisations collaborating to strengthen the cultural sector’s resilience and voice in the Leeds city region.
Our core work is made possible by funding from Arts Council England and Leeds City Council.
