SPACE Colchester Open Studios

This 'Artist Open Studios' event is set in the former Colchester police station, now a thriving artist community space. Dating back to the 1750s, this building was considerably altered in the 20th century but retains its elegant exterior.

The building at 37 Queen Street was purchased in 1938 by Essex County Council and used as a police station by the borough force and then Essex Constabulary when they amalgamated. The police moved to the new police station on Southway in 1989.

The ground floor at Queen Street became a bar, but the rest of the building was unused. This meant that most of the building remained as it had been when it was a police station, including the cell block, CID and admin offices, until 2017 when SPACE Colchester opened an artist community offering 37 creative studios, a workspace facility and cultural venue. In 2018, the building won a RICS Award for Best Regeneration Project in partnership with Colchester Borough Council and Essex County Council.

Come and explore the studios, meet artists, photographers, designers, illustrators and all sorts of creative people face to face and buy works of art directly from their studio.

Please be aware, this is an old building with some narrow staircases. There is lift access throughout the building.

The event is part of Heritage Open Days and is organised by SPACE Studios.