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1 nomination from readers

• Wasps Artists’ Studios believes that artists make a huge contribution to communities in Scotland and that their work should be supported and valued. In the 1990s, the organisation set out on a long-term strategy to raise capital to invest in buildings to improve artists’ workspaces and change the perception that it was acceptable for artists to ‘suffer for their art’, working in often unsafe buildings with no heating, leaking roofs and unsympathetic landlords. Wasps is therefore strongly committed to providing high quality buildings and works with award-winning architects to create world-class workspaces that, were they operated commercially, would be unaffordable for the vast majority of the 750 artists and arts charities supported.

  In the last 15 years the charity has grown by 150% and is now one of the largest and most successful social enterprises in Scotland, and possibly one of the largest of its type in Europe. Wasps is set to grow by a further 152% in the next four years extending its national network of buildings into rural and inner city areas across Scotland.

  Wasps is an innovative charity that is set to move out of the subsidised sector, away from the traditional reliance on the public purse. The company has negotiated a pioneering £2.5 million investment package as part of a £7 million strategy to develop 5 new buildings in 5 communities across Scotland by 2012, supporting jobs for over 150 additional artists and bringing new facilities to many communities. By the end of the development period, Wasps will have grown sufficiently in scale to be 100% financially self-sufficient.

  Wasps also organises selling, exhibiting and training events for artists. Since 2002, Wasps’ annual open studios weekend has attracted 25,000 visitors and generated £273,935 in sales and commissions, with all the money going directly into artists’ pockets.

  Nominated by David Cook, 18 May 2008