Sparks Bristol marks three years of transforming Broadmead with a free city centre celebration of art, repair and sustainable living on Saturday 9 May, highlighting how a former department store has been reimagined as a leading community-led high street project.
Running from 11am to 6pm, the anniversary event will bring together artists, makers and community organisations for a packed programme designed to inspire practical action and creative thinking around sustainability. Highlights include a workshop with guest artist Luke Jerram exploring ‘Making Art That Matters’, the launch of the Blazing Art Environmental Justice exhibition, and a series of hands-on sessions including a repair café, Stitch Social and Dr Bike
Now three years into its journey, Sparks has become a flagship example of how meanwhile use can revitalise city centres, turning vacant retail space into a thriving hub for creativity, climate action and community life.
Across the building, visitors will be able to explore the 20 Years of Artspace exhibition in the Department of Imagination, alongside a jumble sale and talks from The Invisible Circus in The People’s Event Space and The People’s Theatre on the first floor. Open artist studios will offer a rare behind-the-scenes insight into the work taking place on the second floor, while additional activities include a food composting workshop, a Fairtrade afternoon tea, and a range of exhibitions and interactive experiences throughout the space.
The celebrations will also feature live walkabout entertainment, with Sparklers bringing their concierge clowning skills to the day alongside roaming performers and a magician adding an extra sense of occasion.
The project began in 2022 when Artspace Lifespace took on a meanwhile lease of the former Marks & Spencer building in Broadmead, partnering with education charity Global Goals Centre to transform the site into a ‘department store with a difference’. Since then, it has become a vibrant hub for creativity, sustainability and community action, bringing together independent artists and organisations under one roof.
Since opening to the public in May 2023, Sparks Bristol has welcomed over 1.4 million visitors and established itself as an example of how high street spaces can be reimagined for community use. In that time, the project has saved more than 38,000 items from landfill, repaired over 10,000 items and delivered climate education workshops to 4,550 children and young people.
Jenny Foster, Global Goals Centre Co-Director, said: “Our anniversary celebrations are a chance for us to reflect on what we’ve achieved in the last few years and to plan how we want the future to look. Bristol has an aim to reach net zero by 2030; to reach this we have to make massive changes to how much we recycle, how we travel, energy use and more. By providing positive solutions in such a high-profile space Sparks is helping kickstart a shift towards more sustainable lifestyles.”
Sparks Bristol has recently been recognised with both the Retailers Award at the Bristol Life Awards and a Bristol Legends Award in the Sustainability category, highlighting its innovative approach to reimagining the high street.
Kathryn Chiswell-Jones, Artspace Lifespace CEO, said: “Sparks focuses on sensory, education and experiences throughout, encouraging people to make intentional purchases and dwell there because it's a lovely place to be. Our space is shaped by the independent artists and organisations who make it such a welcoming and inspiring place to spend time. Sparks is a pilot project that demonstrates how our ailing high streets and retail spaces can be reimagined as places for creativity, learning and community.”
The anniversary event is free and open to all, with full programme details available at https://sparksbristol.co.uk/events/sparks-3rd-anniversary/
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