Situated in the heart of Durham City, Empty Shop HQ is the home of Empty Shop Community Interest Company.
Set over two floors it houses ten studio spaces, a usable workspace, the Empty Shop offices, and six exhibition spaces.
Unused for around a decade, this beautiful old building forms the centrepiece of our regeneration agenda and acts as a hub for independent arts in Durham City.
This space operates differently to other Empty Shops in that it is a permanent home for the organisation rather than a publically accessible exhibition space. Whilst there are still opportunities for people to use the building, the venue is not subject to our open door exhibition booking policy. This policy, where anyone can book time and space for a show continues to be in place with the Empty Shops we occupy on a temporary basis (see Current Venues section).
Empty Shop programmes a handful of spectacular exhibitions each year at the HQ, showcasing some the best and most exciting art as picked by us, the folks @ Empty Shop .
Address
Empty Shop Community Interest Company
35c Framwellgate Bridge
Durham City
DH1 4SJ
View Empty Shop HQ’s location on Google Maps
1st Floor
Stairwell Gallery: 3-6 month residency
The Pink Room: Offices and exhibition space
Space In-between: Wall based commission space
Workspace: Workspace for hire and main exhibition space
Kitchen & bar
W.C: Unisex toilet
2nd Floor
Wonderland: Studio Space and exhibition space
Saltlick Studios: Studio Space and exhibition space
Expanse Gallery Expanse (E.G.E): Gallery curated by 50ft Long Horse
The Library: Lounge are and library
W.C: Unisex toilet
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The Workspace
We use our workspace to run a programme of dynamic and engaging workshops and classes with plenty of opportunity for community involvement. The Workspace is also available to hire on a day to day basis, a perfect place to create, experiment and try out new ideas.
For more information about The Workspace, including how to hire, please go to The Workspace page – click here
The Stairwell Gallery
Empty Shop HQ also brings with it some exciting opportunities for artists. The Stairwell Gallery will play host to a dynamic exhibition programme with each lasting 3 or 6 months. Situated in the entrance to all of Empty Shops HQ’s facilities The Stairwell Gallery is a fantastic platform to showcase work. A second semi permanent exhibition programme is currently in development, check out the opportunities page for more interesting projects that you can get involved with.
For more information about The Stairwell Gallery, including how to apply, please go to The Stairwell Gallery Exhibition Programme page – click here
The FreeBirds
The Freebirds are the Empty Shop HQ studio group. To find out more about The FreeBirds, including how to register your interest in taking a studio, please go to The FreeBirds page – click here
