East Street Arts


East Street Arts is a contemporary arts organisation and registered charity based in Leeds, England. It was established in 1993 by Karen Watson and Jon Wakeman to provide space, services, facilities, opportunities and support for artists.
The arts organisations is dedicated to making art accessible to all. It operates on an international scale, supporting artists at all levels and stages of their careers. East Street Arts aims to sustain the alternative and challenge the norm through creating the space, time and resource for artists to be innovative, pioneering and successful. At the heart of its philosophy is developing unique, provocative and experimental environments for artists, residents, businesses and tourists to convene.
East Street Arts occupies places, bringing creativity, vibrancy and life to urban environments: from artistic commissions which reimagine public space to its portfolio of temporary and permanent arts properties.
Led by a dynamic trio of directors, its property portfolio spans the length and breadth of the country providing artistic workspaces and studios, exhibition venues, community arts hubs and, most recently, the UK’s first independent Art Hostel, creating a home-from-home for an international community of artists and curious tourists alike.