Gated Communities, Closed Doors: The Exclusive Nature of Art Spaces

I visited a local drawing room set up a street away from my home here in Bermondsey. It’s a relatively new development which has luxury apartments and businesses on the grounds. A gated community would probably best describe it with the intercom systems at different entrances to the estate. On proceeding to the drawing room to make enquiries, about hiring the art gallery space, I was faced with a lot of obstructive responses on asking about hiring the gallery. But gleaming above one of the doors said ‘Community’. I don’t wish to sound ungrateful but within the Borough of Southwark this word community is becoming synonymous with clique. If you live within these gated estates or boundary roads you are more then welcome, if not you are discarded and given excuses. At the time of my enquiry, I was advised the gallery space was available to those using the private drawing rooms. But those not enrolled in studio hired space had a waiting time until 2026. This obstructive conversation really did shock me. I accept I’m a well-established artist locally but for any artist seeking to get into the scene without a voice I want to call it out for what it is. A clique, that is dividing communities and not offering the all-important spaces struggling artists need. If these new developments are to be built and the word community and gallery used I ask we see a change in policy. Allow the surrounding community to join in and show off their work. I’ve brought this into question with my local MP and I’m most grateful to see they are making enquiries on my behalf. If new developments are getting funding from the state but are cherry picking clients should they loose there entitlement to government funding in a time of austerity. It is a question I’ve been asking myself today.