We’re Saying Goodbye to Our Kirkstall Road Studios.

After years of building a vibrant, inclusive creative space, Aire Place Studios (APS) is closing the doors to our beloved studios and gallery on Kirkstall Road, Leeds.

Our building has been sold to developers, and like many grassroots organisations, we are now facing the reality of being without a physical home.

A Space Built by and for Marginalised Creatives

APS is a queer and disabled led Community Interest Company that was founded to create the kind of space so many of us needed but couldn’t find.

“APS is a disabled led space, which presents its own set of challenges due to varying symptoms and unique access requirements that affect day to day tasks… I built this space based on passion and drive to be the change I needed.”
Sarah Francis, Director of APS

We have always prioritised accessibility, affordability, and community. Our studios were more than just workspaces. They were lifelines for artists and creatives across disciplines.

What This Means for Our Community

This closure impacts more than just a building. It affects the livelihoods and creative practices of our studio members.

“The closure of APS would leave me unable to work and have devastating consequences for my company and income… APS has allowed me to take on bigger projects with game creators in the UK and US.”
Myles Garstang, RuneFable Ltd

“Without Aire Place, there would be no studio. My career in Leeds music would have been severely stunted before it could even grow.”
James Grimshaw, Musician, Producer and Writer

What’s Next?

While we may be leaving our physical home, Aire Place Studios is evolving.

We will continue to support our creative community through a growing programme of professional development opportunities, including artist coaching, mentoring, and peer support. Our goal remains the same: to champion underrepresented artists and help them build sustainable, confident creative practices.

You will also see APS popping up across Leeds and beyond with exhibitions, projects, workshops, and community collaborations. These flexible, site-specific activities will keep our mission alive while we search for a new permanent space.

We are excited to explore this new chapter and to continue building an arts community that puts care, access, and inclusion at its heart.

Stay Connected

We may be leaving our current space, but Aire Place Studios is not going anywhere. Our mission continues.

If you want to get involved, support us, or have leads on potential new spaces, we would love to hear from you.

📩 Contact us at help@aireplacestudios.com

Thank you to everyone who has supported APS. We are heartbroken to leave, but so proud of what we have built. And we are not done yet.

The APS Team