Published
Sat, Jul 9, 2022, 09:00
- Set up for queer and marginalised genders, the DIY space will be developed later this year.
Sheffield's DIY venue Gut Level is being turned into luxury flats, starting in October.
Cofounder Katie Matthews launched Gut Level in 2019 with Hannah Beres, Adam Benson and Frazer Scott. Speaking to Resident Advisor, she said the venue was conceived in response to the lack of spaces in the city for "queer people, marginalised genders and party freakz."
This is why the Snow Lane venue's imminent closure has come as a "shock" to the community, she added. The team were given a two-month notice period two weeks ago and told that building work would begin at the start of October. They hope to run events until the end of September.
The team confirmed the news last Friday, July 1st, via Instagram. "Insecure tenancies, accelerated gentrification and the appearance of luxury accommodation on every street corner has made it virtually impossible for small independent spaces to exist long term in central locations," the post read." In our case, the Gut Level building will soon be developed into flats, displacing our community and disrupting the parties & workshops that we had planned for you all."
Gut Level moved to the Snow Lane building—a Grade II-listed former cutlery factory—in 2020 after its Attercliffe Arches venue closed during the pandemic. According to Matthews, the team were assured by their new landlord that there were no plans to develop the property for the next three-to-five years and, if this happened sooner, they'd get a six-month eviction notice. But the impact of the pandemic took a toll on the landlord's business, leaving no room to negotiate the notice period.
"Nine out of ten commercial units in the city are in residential spaces with zero tolerance for noise or 'nuisance' complaints," Matthews added. "Other central units are subject to high business rates. We weren't willing to compromise our DIY values, which is why Snow Lane became the most favourable option."
Gut Level received a massive outpouring of support after last Friday's announcement. "It's been really moving to hear what the space meant to people," Matthews said. "Many also expressed frustration with the same old story of property developments dismantling cultural spaces."
Matthews said the team has maintained positive relations with Sheffield City Council, including head of business development and culture, Rebecca Maddox.
"She's aware of the ongoing issue around the lack of viable, affordable and accessible space in the city and helped set up a working group featuring Gut Level and other cultural organisations that are outlining challenges to arts and music organisations in the city," said Matthews.
But Matthews said there's no mistaking the "underlying level of frustration with the uphill battle to acquire affordable space with minimal support for grassroots organisations." Despite this, the Gut Level team is determined to find a permanent autonomous zone in which to grow the community without threat of displacement.
"We still feel passionately this is needed for Sheffield and hope to have a physical space again in the future," said Matthews. "We want to ensure our next home is our 'forever space.' This is why we will take our time to seek out the next venue and ensure all the foundations are right."
Before Gut Level shuts for good, several collectives will host events in August and September. The Gut Level crew will also host a stage takeover at UK festival KALLIDA in August.
Donate to Gut Level's fundraising campaign, which launched earlier this week.