The Founders of Supermarché. Image from Supermarché’s Website
It is a well-known fact that London drives young professionals out of the city shortly after they graduate, especially those in creative industries. Typically, however, artists who reside in metropolises move to places comparable in size and buzz such as Berlin and Lisbon. The trend has not yet dramatically changed but with the recent EU Referendum outcome the possibility of moving to one of these artistic havens seems increasingly farfetched. And a clear consequence of that has been the new wave of ex-London-based artists turning the north of England into a creative hotspot.
Supermarché is a newly established shop and studio founded by Ben Hall, Charlie Kondras and Josh Dring as a result of this phenomenon. Back in Lancaster the trio found itself with an unbeatable opportunity only a small and understated city like theirs could offer. Originally, the young artists were only looking for a studio, but the space they managed to source had the potential of being not only their studio, but also their shop. “We realised we could utilise [the shop] and make our work sustainable,” Josh who is in charge of the business’s clothing department tells i-D. “Affordability was the main thing, because a lot of studio spaces are expensive.” Like the founders of Supermarché, Louis Appleby also managed to take advantage of the city’s post-recession state to open up Sound & Vision Gallery right on the same street. The gallery focuses on exhibiting contemporary artwork from emerging artists, but Louis recognises that he also has the great opportunity to attract other artists from London and try and make it a bit of a destination spot.
Given the low letting prices (as low as £300 per month) and the opportunity to make Lancaster an up-and-coming artistic hub, the artists behind the two new businesses have found great motivation to remain in the city. Ben of Supermarché also thinks their own interests will create a snowball effect and kick-start the micro-economy of their hometown, which is something they consider to be equally as important as their own success. “If some people have occupied a shop and they’ve got a studio, they’re going to want to buy coffee somewhere,” he explains. “Or they’re going to want to buy their lunch somewhere.”
With the newly appointed UK prime minister, Theresa May, starting the preparations for Brexit and the looming cuts, the UK can only hope that young artists like Ben, Charlie, Josh and Louis keep supporting their hometowns and prove that there’s a viable alternative to life in the Big Smoke.