In the Meanwhile, a project to bring Bath’s vacant spaces to life

Over May and June, Bath residents and visitors enjoyed a vibrant programme of creative activity at 17/18 Milsom Street and Milsom Place in Bath as part of a project called In the Meanwhile.

In the Meanwhile, organised by Bath Spa University in partnership with Little Lost Robot, and working with B&NES Council, brought temporarily redundant shop spaces into productive use. The Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent economic crisis has seen a large number of shops in the city centre become empty; these vacated spaces are highly visible. In the Meanwhile supported the council to reinvigorate these spaces during this interim period.

Over the two months the exhibition showcased a wide variety of work from fine art installations to robotics and street theatre, bringing together Studio Residents including Little Lost Robot, Forest of The Imagination and Ramshacklicious, Bath Spa Uni Fine Art students and graduates based at EMERGE.

Following the success of the project, additional funding has been secured through Bristol + Bath Creative R+D to explore the potential of pop-up versions in other vacant shop spaces in Bath and beyond.

See more about this initiative on In the Meanwhile’s Instagram page and check out the video above produced by student, Imogen Bennett, @imogen_mediafilms.

In the Meanwhile was supported by: Little Lost Robot, Arts Council England, Bath Spa University, Bath School of Art, Bristol + Bath Creative R+D, The Studio, and BSU Careers and Employability Team, B&NES, Milsom Place and The Centre of Cultural and Creative Industries.