The artists have been chosen to breath life into the new Art Hostel, opening in April 2021.
With 60 beds spread across 12 rooms, The Art Hostel opening on Mabgate, Leeds will be a vibrant, fun and comfortable place to stay. East Street Arts has again commissioned artists to design each space, offering insight into each artist’s mind and artistic practice. New commissions for 2021 include a room focused on 1980’s alternative culture, a sensory safe space, a room inspired by local East African communities and another inspired by Folklore.
The new Hostel building is taking over New York Studios in Mabgate and looks to transform the building into a bigger, brighter and better Art Hostel then the one open on Kirkgate between May 2016 and January 2019.
Rhian Aitken – Manager @ The Art Hostel
In these uncertain times it is great for us to offer the people of Leeds, and travelers from overseas something to look forward to!
Following a recent call-out for artist commissions, the Art Hostel team were overwhelmed with applications from local Leeds artists and others from further afield.
The artists commissioned for the 2021 Art Hostel are:
- Akeelah Bertram & Julian McIntosh
- Alison Smith
- Andrew Small
- Bernd Trasberger
- Caraboo
- Edwin Li, Sarah Li & Lady Kitt
- Emma Bentley Fox
- Jesse Wright
- Jonathan Lang
- Kadija de Paula & Chico Togni
- Kevin Chege
- Louise McKenzie
- Mandy Barker
- Mary & Jiem of Wanderlust Social Club
- Matilda Njau
- Mo Barrangi
- Precious Collective
- Sayang Sound
- Thompson Brand Partners
- YOKE
East Street Arts would like to thank their Art Hostel sponsors:
- Gill Crawshaw & Mick Ward
- Unlimited
- Thompson Brand Partners
- Yorkshire Property Charitable Trust
- Kinrise
- Leeds Dock
- Hammerson Ltd
Additionally the team extends their thanks to Dobson Construction and Richard Boothroyd & Associates for going above and beyond and ensuring that the new Art Hostel came to fruition.
A brief history of The Art Hostel
The original Art Hostel, whilst only being open for just over two years, created a fan base of travellers and volunteers from around the world from locations such as Italy, Argentina and Australia. This new Hostel is set to expand on this even further.
Francesco, a volunteer from Italy was so enamoured with the Art Hostel in its previous location of Kirkgate he commented: “It doesn’t matter who you are, and where you come from…you’ll always be able to find a place where you feel at home, surrounded by beautiful people. That place is the Art Hostel!”
Jon Wakeman and Karen Watson of East Street Arts always dreamt of owning their own Art Hostel, inspired by the accommodation they encountered on their travels, they saw a great opportunity to build an affordable yet inspiring place to stay in Leeds.
The Art Hostel initially opened its doors in May 2016, on Leeds’ oldest street, Kirkgate. The Art Hostel hosted ten thousand people worldwide, visiting Leeds, until it had to close its doors prematurely in January 2019.
After a thriving couple of years at their temporary home of Kirkgate, the Art Hostel team are extremely excited to be making the move across the city to their new permanent space in Mabgate, where big transformations are currently happening to the former Presbytery building. The Art Hostel staff can’t wait to welcome travellers in April 2021!