Interim Spaces

Interim Spaces is a UK-registered charity with the charity number 1165694. It specializes in bringing temporarily empty buildings to life by repurposing them into spaces for innovation, development, and growth, benefiting both property owners and the public. The organization is led by arts professionals who focus on unlocking social and economic capital through interim use of vacant properties.

Activities

Interim Spaces provides low-cost work and development spaces for artists, entrepreneurs, emerging small businesses, and non-profit organizations. By doing so, it supports creative and community-driven initiatives that revitalize urban areas. For instance, they have transformed former offices into affordable coworking facilities that include studios, meeting rooms, recording studios, and other amenities, significantly reducing empty property costs for owners while fostering vibrant community hubs.

Mission and Impact

The mission of Interim Spaces is to reimagine and repurpose urban spaces, turning them into vibrant hubs for creativity and entrepreneurship. By providing affordable spaces, they enable communities to flourish and support local economic growth. Their work often involves collaborating with property owners and local authorities to transform spaces that might otherwise remain unused.

Funding and Partnerships

Interim Spaces has received support from various funding sources, including blended loans and grants from social enterprise funds. For example, they have been awarded funding from the Somerset Social Enterprise Fund to support projects such as transforming an empty building in Shepton Mallet into an affordable hire space and retail incubator.

Background

The organization's roots can be traced back to experiences in repurposing vacant properties in London. Initially, through informal means such as squatting in disused buildings, the founder, Dan Simon, recognized the potential for creative communities to thrive in these spaces. Over time, this evolved into formal negotiations with property owners to maintain and protect these buildings, eventually leading to the establishment of Interim Spaces as a structured organization dedicated to interim use projects.

[1] https://www.interimspaces.co.uk [2] https://www.interimspaces.co.uk/workspace [3] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5067366/contact-information [4] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5067366/full-print [5] https://www.somersetcf.org.uk/stories/interim-spaces-creating-new-community-spaces-with-the-help-of-scf-social-enterprise-funding/