Studio provision in London is not good enough. The airbnb-ification of studios, that has occurred over the last 20 years, must stop. The Florence Trust, constantly questions our own provision through the metric of security, affordability and added value.
The current lack of affordability, in what was once the centre of the artistic world, is having a huge detrimental effect on the UK art market and the raw material needed for the creative industries, which drive the UK.
There was another way, there is another way and artists can deliver it. Community is what we aspire to build in all of our decision making and actions. Everyone has something of value that they can offer. We will support if you try to support others.
If the key to good management is delegation delegation delegation then the key to community is, delegation, empowerment and partnerships.
You have to own the vision, lead by example and then those who recognise the value being created can choose to get involved. Its then up to you to enable that partnership flourish.
If we can help someone we should, if we can pay, we should and properly, if we can’t pay we should ask what other value we might offer and we should never ask anyone to do, that which we wouldn’t do ourselves.
We have, over the past 7 years, developed the Florence Trust from a residency of 12 international artists in 1 church, to a family of over 80 artists, residencies, galleries, funding, paid work, multiple partnerships, as well as critical and technical support across 6 buildings.
A fundamental choice on which we’ve built this community is, that we do not require external funding, grants or donations in order either exist or thrive. All of our money comes from the highly affordable rents paid by the artists. That money (over 60% of our total turnover) is then invested back into creative projects through direct support and employment of and for those very same artists.
Both directors being practicing artists who met on the FT residency on 08/09 means the FT is by the artists for the artists.
We are succeeding in creating a culture and this is the culture of the Florence trust.
The former church of Christchurch. NW14BG
Houses 16 artists and a project space in support of FT artists and partners, since 2025.
Edmonton Green, Charity Girls School. N99DU
Housing 6 artists since 2022.
Holy Trinity, Islington N10HN
Housing 14 artists and a gallery programme supporting FT artists and partners, since 2023.
21 Whitefriars, EC48YJJ
Housing 18 artists in the heart of London, since 2026.
Britannia Row N18QH
Housing 14 artists, The Writers Room, a community project space, Gallery space and Euca Annex program. This is an 8 month program residency. 2026.
St France of Assisi, Dollis Hill NW101NR
Housing 12 artists since 2024.