Think Make Produce Share Show Sell

We give artists space to think about, make and produce their work, and we open our doors to share, show and sell it. Our world-class facilities support ambitious, large-scale art production and complex fabrication. Used by internationally-renowned artists, works produced in our Sheffield studios go on to be exhibited across the globe.

Studios

Work here and you join one of the largest creative communities in the UK.

Our studios span two very different buildings: Persistence Works is purpose-built for production, supporting hot works and light-industrial processes. Exchange Place, a former Art Deco department store, offers flexible spaces suited to lighter and more experimental forms of art.

Studios range from 100 to 800 square feet, and come with the freedom, infrastructure and support that artists and makers need to sustain ambitious work.

— 24/7 access

— Heated and secure

— Specialist, purpose-built facilities

— Central Sheffield locations

— Long-term, stable workspace

— Experienced, supportive staff

— Opportunities for collaboration

Persistence Works
Exchange Place

Apply for a studio

We advertise studio vacancies through our website, social media, and newsletter. Follow us to find out when studios are available, or check back here.

Please be aware that we receive high levels of interest when studios come vacant, and only accept expressions of interest when spaces are available.

To register interest, you must complete our form to supply information about your requirements and your practice/creative business. This will be live when there is available space. Please check our criteria before filling in the form. We will use your website/social media to see examples of your work and learn about your projects and achievements.

Our Criteria

Hire a space

Distinctive spaces shaped by art and making – available for events, installations, filming, launches, screenings, and more.

Our spaces bring contemporary art and craft into view.

Persistence Works Gallery presents exhibitions of contemporary British painting, visual art and craft. At Exchange Place, adaptable project spaces host residencies, experimental pop-ups, workshops, artist crits, and work created with our local community and partners. These spaces include:

— Persistence Works Gallery

— Persistence Works Reception Gallery

— Persistence Works Atrium

— Exchange Place Project Space

— Exchange Place Basement

Details about our five distinctive and flexible spaces are available to download below.

Further Information
Booking Enquiry Form

Dig Where You Stand (Photo Smart Jervas Banda)

Unquiet Landscapes (Photo Will Slater)

Kiln Yard

The Kiln Yard is our gas kiln facility at Persistence Works — built for serious ceramic production. It houses two large gas-fired kilns, alongside a sheltered outdoor workspace and urban garden, and is the only publicly accessible facility of its kind in the region.

Gas firing enables reduction atmospheres and the rich, complex glaze effects they produce — from copper reds to shinos, celadons and carbon trapping.

Kilns are available to hire by professional ceramicists, individually or shared. Firings are overseen by our dedicated Kiln Technicians.

Kiln Booking Enquiry
Kiln Information Pack

Silver Space

Silver Space is the northern hub for contemporary silversmithing in Britain. It is a fully equipped silversmithing facility that is available for bench hire and skills training workshops. It is also the base for our Silver Fellowship and over the last 20 years has supported 50+ emerging silversmiths to develop their careers.

The space includes a range of specialist tools, equipment and machinery for contemporary silversmithing, including a hearth, fly press, draw bench, milling machine, polishing wheels, bandsaw, disc sander, and more. It is also equipped with video conferencing tech for online meetings and delivering remote classes.

The facility is often used to deliver silversmithing and jewellery workshops, and hosts the Contemporary British Silversmiths for their skills training courses.

Silver Space is available to hire on a flexible daily, weekly, or monthly basis.

Enquire

Clay Space

Clay Space is a communal studio facility for early-career ceramicists. Residents have 24/7 access to the facility, which includes open use of three electric kilns, potters’ wheel, extruder, and more. The offer is for a maximum of three years.

Joining Clay Space makes you a part of a vibrant, experienced and highly skilled ceramics community. It provides the space, facilities, networks, and support to help you develop your work and transition into professional practice in an independent studio.

Current Clay Space residents are George Baggaley, Echino Ceramics, and Eve Gnoyke. We are not currently open for applications.

Persistence Works

Carousel Print Studio

Carousel Print Studio is a community-led charity offering a welcoming and fully equipped space for printmaking at Exchange Place. Studio members can book use of the facilities, which include a range of tools, A1 screenprinting bed, A0 etching press, exposure unit, wash-out booth and more.

Carousel also offer a range of workshops and classes including linocut, letterpress, woodblock, collagraph, cyanotype, intaglio, and more.

Become a member
Workshops & classes

Untitled Print Studio

Untitled Print Studio (founded by Matthew Conduit) is a digital print studio based at Persistence Works. They specialise in producing high-quality archival inkjet prints for artists, photographers, designers, and galleries. Their services also include high-resolution scanning, colour correction, resizing, image sharpening, and photo retouching.

Find out more