Chapter 2: Temporary Art Spaces: A Conceptual Framework

This chapter offers a conceptual framework to explicate the current configurations of temporary art spaces in the United Kingdom and how they seek to support the interests of artists as self-employed individuals. This chapter begins with a review of the literature on artists’ (temporary) spaces. Next, we present a conceptual framework of the dimensions of temporary art spaces and explore how they support or hinder entrepreneurs in the cultural and creative industries to create and sustain their businesses and their wellbeing. The framework questions notions of temporary art space design that are often taken for granted by putting the most fundamental facets of the space (time and use) under a microscope. It can be used as a basis for future research into temporary art spaces and as a way to design better spaces that prioritise artists and their ways of working.