150,000 Visitors,
3000 Artists, 900 Events,
42 SPACES, 9 YEARS
42 SPACES, 9 YEARS
** PLEASE NOTE: We programme across multiple venues so please pay attention to the location **
EMPTY SHOP HQ NEWS: HQ.V2 will come to an end in June and we are no longer taking bookings. We will continue to occupy the building and will take time out to carefully consider what V.3 looks like. You can read more about that here: https://bit.ly/2IPLqqw
Back for its 2nd year, DJAZZ: The Durham City Jazz Festival brings you an eclectic mix of contemporary and traditional jazz set against the backdrop of some of Durham’s most intriguing venues.
** Tickets are now available at a discounted price of £8 for a limited time only – the offer end at noon on May 1st. Please note, there will be no reduced day tickets or individually priced events. The flat fee of £10 gives you access to all events**
We have many more great acts to announce in the coming weeks including the list of venues and fringe events. Keep an eye on our social media platforms for full festival details to follow.
DJAZZ is brought to you by AT THE ROOT & Empty Shop in partnership with Durham University Jazz Society.
New partners this year also include:
Jazz North
Jazz Plus Productions
This partnership led approach enables us to deliver a festival which reflects the city that inspired its creation. Bringing together musicians and audiences from the region, the university and further afield, the festival utilises some of the fantastic venues and spaces in this historic city.
Follow DJAZZ on facebook for lineup announcements
TESTT Space is a new visual arts venue in Durham city which informs the TESTT project in the form of action research.
The building is a former office space, previously vacant for over 10 years. We have secured the premises for a medium term and are using it to test the case for a number of visual art strands in Durham city.
TESTT Space includes artists studios, 3 gallery spaces, community workshop & darkroom facilities, black box theatre space and a small cinema.
To learn about the TESTT project in detail, visit the website here
*Please note this building is a separate building in addition to our long standing Empty Shop HQ.
Find TESTT SpaceWhat’s on?
The building is open to the public via the arts event it periodically hosts. To find out about events join our mailing list:
Today Empty Shop still provides those opportunities and resources that were so few and important back then but our reach now also expands into a whole cross section of areas and expertise.
Empty Shop was founded by Carlo Viglianisi and Nick Malyan in 2008 and chooses to be completely unfunded and fully independent.
Where is Empty Shop?
Our Head Quarters, Empty Shop HQ, is in Durham city centre, however we also utilise other venues and public spaces temporarily to provide accessible, temporary galleries and site specific events.
Empty Shop Community Interest Company,
Empty Shop HQ,
35c Framwellgate Bridge
Durham City
DH1 4SJ
View Empty Shop HQ in a larger map
Carlo Viglianisi is an artist and photographer who worked freelance for 7 years prior to Empty Shop. He has managed Empty Shop HQ in Durham city since 2010. Initially an artist studios and gallery space the venue is now a cross-platform arts centre. Carlo has also project managed Empty Shop’s recent site specific work including The Alligator Club (BRASS 2015), Contained (Shambala Festival) and Hot Potato Records. He was also awarded the title of Young British Cartoonist of the Year in 2006.
Nick Malyan is a North East based project manager with a decades experience working with organisations including Artichoke, New Writing North, Sage Gateshead and the Lindisfarne Gospels Durham partnership. Nick also works independently as a writer, curator and facilitator contributing to projects as part of Cardiff Contemporary, The Newbridge Project, Northern Stage, &-Model Gallery and Futuresonic festival (among others).
**Please note, HQ.V2 will come to an end in June and we are no longer taking bookings. We will continue to occupy the building and will take time out to carefully consider what V.3 looks like. You can read more about that here: https://bit.ly/2IPLqqw **
Situated in the heart of Durham City, Empty Shop HQ is a fully licensed cultural hub and performance focused venue.
Empty Shop HQ was established in 2010 as a permanent home for the organisation. Previously unused for a decade, this beautiful, old building forms the centrepiece of our placemaking agenda. Originally housing artist’s studios and exhibition space HQ V.1 rapidly evolved into a hub for the creative community and in late 2012 acquired the relevant licenses to formally become a multi-disciplinary arts venue. HQ V.2 now plays host to a diverse and constantly evolving programme of music, theatre, spoken word, talks and lectures.
To find out what’s on view the calendar or sign up for our regular newsletter here
To programme an event or book space with HQ click here or contact hq@emptyshop.org
There are loads of ways you can get involved with Empty Shop, from painting walls and invigilating exhibitions to programming your own events and pitching ideas for collaboration. Some examples of the sort of opportunities we offer are detailed below but if you don’t see what you’re looking for, just drop us an email on thefolks@emptyshop.org
Volunteer: Empty Shop is a great place to volunteer and get some experience in the arts. You need to be friendly, motivated, willing to learn and able to think on your feet. In most cases we call upon volunteers to work with us on projects and ’empty shops’ outside of our permanent HQ building. Sign up to to stay informed about volunteer and project work opportunities – http://eepurl.com/qaa4D
What is Empty Shop?
Empty Shop CIC is a non profit arts organisation based in Durham City. We specialise in placemaking and the provision of accessible platforms for artists and practitioners of all levels and backgrounds to create, share and promote their work.
Our main objectives are art, regeneration and collaboration. Founded in 2008, we are a registered Community Interest Company and therefore a non-profit organisation.
Why are you called ‘Empty Shop’?
Initially the main focus of the organisation was using empty shops, buildings and unused spaces to create galleries and venues. What started out as a “does what it says on the tin” name has now become a brand rather than the purely descriptive term of it’s origins.
Are you part of the ‘art in empty shops schemes’ that are popping up all over the country?
No, the organisation is completely independent and isn’t linked to any national initiatives or formal networks.
Are you part of a ‘pop up shop scheme’?
No. Although part of what we do is temporary in nature, we are completely independent from any pop up shop schemes – this is all us.
Are you funded?
Empty Shop doesn’t receive or apply for any core funding. We are completely self sufficient and sustainable at every level. Empty Shop exists independently and in it’s own right.
So, what exactly do you do?
Empty Shop is an increasingly inter-disciplinary organisation. We “do” placemaking, exhibitions, events, gigs, residencies, film screenings, programming, producing and curating. Collaboration is fundamental to everything we do.
Will it cost me anything to use one of your spaces?
Empty Shop will only ever charge a fee appropriate to the costs we incur in operating a venue.
Each space we take on has different overheads and project budgets associated with it; a small space that we’re using for one week will be different to an entire building for which we occupy for a period of months or years. With this in mind the charge for hiring one of our spaces can vary, In the past fees have varied from as little as £7 to as much as £150 a day.
Drop us an email if you have a particular project, or particular space, in mind.
How does Empty Shop work?
Empty shop works through hard work, dedication and a genuine interest in what we are doing. We aim to provide the community we serve with creative resources and opportunities, whilst creating an alternative cultural offer in the region.
I have an empty shop/building/space, would it benefit me to let you use it?
Yes, there are some great reasons, including commercial and financial incentives, to allow our organisation to use your unused space. If you want to talk to us about this please email thefolks@emptyshop.org and we will be in touch.
Can Empty Shop help me with an idea?
Very possibly! Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do and we are a really open organisation that loves to work with other people. Drop us an email with your idea and we’ll see if it’s something we can help with.
Get in touch
35c Framwellgate Bridge, Durham, DH1 4SJ