Our first external trip was to The Royal Standard, located within the Baltic Market. I have always been interested in The Royal Standard, not only because it has been mentioned within our lectures but because it’s also a well-known establishment within the art communities of Liverpool. When searching for my own art space last year, it was the first place I contacted. Unfortunately, there were no available spaces at the time, so I went on to join Arena Studios instead.
The Royal Standard has an amazing amount of well-established contemporary artists within their walls like George Welsh, Bitch Palace and Ellzequared, all with such different forms of art practices from tufting to oil painting and some do their practice within open spaces in TRS so it can be viewed by other artists within the spaces. Many creatives within contemporary art engage with establishments like TRS, using them to develop socially engaged, experimental, or interdisciplinary work. Establishments like The Royal Standard, and others in the Liverpool continue to create a network where artists can support each other, access resources, and contribute to the ongoing evolution of contemporary art within Liverpool and the UK.
During our trip to The Royal Standard, I noticed how it felt much more artist and community led compared to other studios I had viewed. The main gallery and studios are artist led but with volunteer trustees that help maintain the spaces cleanliness and other behind the scenes work. The volunteers at TRS all seem so happy to be helping the community, from speaking to James and Sufea Mohamad Noor they overly willing to accommodate me if I decided to reapply for a space within TRS.
Another highlight that shows how TRS is community driven is shown within the pricing of spaces, it is noticeably more affordable compared to other spaces in Liverpool. They also offer a public exhibition space for members and artists also within the community. It’s refreshing to see as a starting artist the community and name they have created for themselves whilst also allowing room for smaller artists to join. Any art community is a hard to break into, especially within bigger establishments and The Royal Standard really opens the door for people to gain a community and potentially create a network with Liverpool.
The Royal Standard have had many successful events located within their gallery space over the past few years such as ‘Homotopia: Creative Skills Workshop: Who Am I?’ and ‘Made It 2023’. Homotopia is an arts and social justice organisation who currently have work within the Liverpool Museum and the Open Eye Museum. The Royal Standard creating events that support LGBTQIA+ platforms and artists also create a safe space for artists and creatives to create art, develop their own skills, and meet likeminded people. Again, making space and bringing together a community through their work.
After the trip to The Royal Standard it made me think about how about I viewed contemporary art and its history, how its shaped by the spaces and organisations that support artists, exhibitions, and any voice with an artistic practice. Alternative and artist-led spaces, such as The Royal Standard, play a crucial role in experimentation and community engagement outside of commercial galleries and museums. They provide new and established artists with opportunities to explore new ideas, collaborate, and showcase work that challenges traditional norms.
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Bibliography:
The Royal Standard (2006) (online)
Available at: https://www.the-royal-standard.co.uk
The Royal Standard (2006) ‘HOMOTOPIA: CREATIVE SKILLS WORKSHOP: WHO AM I?’ (online)
Available at: https://www.the-royal-standard.co.uk/programme/homotopia-creative-skills-workshop-who-am-i
The Royal Standard (2006) ‘Made it 2023’ (online)
Available at: https://www.the-royal-standard.co.uk/programme
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Homotopia (2004) (online)
Available at: https://www.homotopia.net/about/
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