1988—1998

Following the loss of the AIR Gallery, SPACE during the 90s increasingly acted as a development agency forming a valuable link between commercial companies, public bodies and a wide range of artists, arts organisations and cultural groups.

In 1995 with funds from the Elephant and Monument Trusts SPACE carried out a range of education projects. In 1996 SPACE a grant from the Esmee Fairbairn Trust and private sector sponsorship enabled SPACE to offer Studio Awards to graduate and mature artists, providing a free studio for a year and help with an exhibition.

In 1997 SPACE commissioned a Feasibility Study into the future needs of artists and the future role of SPACE and in 1998 SPACE held its 30th anniversary celebrations at Martello Street studios as part of the Whitechapel Open which was attended by over a thousand people including many like Peter Townsend, Letty Mooring and Tony Patterson who had all worked for SPACE over the previous 30 years.

SPACE held a UK Studio Providers Conference in November 1999 supported by the London Arts Board, European Regional Development Funding, and IBM who gave the free use of their conference facilities on London's South Bank. Over 100 delegates attended representing all corners of the UK from Glasgow to Belfast. Delegates expressed concern at the increasing number of artists being pushed out of areas by developers, creating a chronic shortage of studio space. The Conference called on the Arts Council and other Funding bodies to recognise the valuable role studios play and provide loans or grant finance to support studio developments.