Serota Warns Of Artist 'Exodus': We Want Your Views
Tate director Nicholas Serota warned this week that London could be facing a mass artist exodus if already high living costs increase even further.
Speaking at an event which Labour's mayoral candidate, Sadiq Khan, and members of the Creative Industries Federation presented their plans to support the arts sector ahead of the 2016 London mayoral election, Sir Nicholas stated
“Fifty or 60 years ago it was possible for a young British artist to live or work in Notting Hill or Camden Town. Frank Auerbach, Lucian Freud, Bridget Riley,David Hockney, they all lived in the centre of the city," he told the audience.
"Even 20 years ago artists would come to this city to train and then they would stay on after they had finished their studies and they would go on to win the Turner Prize, like Wolfgang Tillmans and Tomma Abts, from Germany; that is no longer the case,"
Mr Khan laid out proposals for his potential tenure as Mayor of London, which include establishing “Creative Enterprise Zones" where affordable space and reduced rates and grants would be offered.
After Nyne want to hear from you on this issue: are you a London-based artist facing financial pressure from remaining in London? Have you already left London? What do you think of Nicholas Serota's proclamations? We want all of your views on this. Email us at features@afternyne.com or tweet your thoughts at @after_nyne
