Key Manchester creative space at risk of closure and facing possible eviction
- Additional reporting: Cade Mulvihill
One of Manchester’s longest-running creative spaces is at risk of closure and faces possible eviction.
Bankley Studios is a non-profit and an artist-led studios and gallery in Levenshulme and has been in existence for nearly 35 years.
The building features 30 studios, some of which are shared by 37 artists that use the space on a regular basis. Bankley also includes a dark room for photographers to develop their photographs. In the gallery, exhibitions, painting groups, and students use the space to show case and display their creativity. However, all plans for the future are currently on hold.
A couple of days after the annual Bankley open exhibition in October 2025, the biggest event that Bankley hosts, the co-operative was served a legal notice stating that the lease would be ended if they did not meet a list of conditions, including things like PAT test certificates for electrical items.
The artists say they carried out the tests and after seeking legal advice say they found that not all things on this list fell under their responsibility as tenants. By November, the fear that bailiffs could lock the artists out of the building became a reality and upon advice from their solicitor they committed to occupying Bankley for 24 hours a day for 10 days.
Landlord Asad Haider has been asked for a comment but has not responded.
The artists are now unsure of the future of their creative space and have began fundraising on GoFundMe which has currently raised £5,174 and is 87% closer to its goal of £6,000. The Bankley community are urging the public to support the studio and gallery in anyway that they can and help preserve the creative space.
Artist and treasurer at Bankley, Kate O’Brien has explained what the studio space she occupies means to her.
She said: “When I walk in my studio, like, the sense that you’re like, oh, my God, like, this is my room. It’s like being a child, being nine again, and, your partner, your dog, nobody is allowed in that room. I every time I walk in my studio, I think, oh, my God, this is wholly my space.”
Photographer and member of the Bankley co-operative, Ciara Lemming, emphasised Bankley studios impact on the wider community: “It’s very much part of Levenshulme and Levenshulme is a very creative area. You know, I’ve lived here a long time. It’s known for being a very vibrant, creative place. I think it’s, important to try and protect that as much as possible.”
Ciara expressed her gratitude for the support shown so far.
She said: “We’re really grateful to people who have, sort of, shown an interest, and obviously people who’ve donated, but also people who’ve just, sort of, shared, shared our situation, and just, and reached out to us as well.
“It’s just nice to know that people, you know, people might not visit all the time, or even go to our events, but they kind of care that we’re there.”
Anna Marsden, a fine art photographer with a studio in Bankley House, said: “The amount of things Bankley has done for the local art community is amazing really. It’s been here for 30 years. It’s somewhere that feels very special because of the history it has
“It’s been so important to artists for so long and it’s so important that the past, as well as the present, is preserved so that it can go on and have a future.”
Several artists have taken part in overnight occupations of the building to prevent the locks being changed while the building is vacant
For Anna and the other resident artists, these actions aren’t performative stunts for the media, but are legally important for keeping the building open.
“We’re having bodies here 24/7. We can’t reside here because it’s a commercial property, but we’re staying here and working in our studios overnight.”