Century-old art studio in need of urgent repairs

The studio at Charleston, in Firle, was built as a temporary space in 1925

A 100-year-old studio at a gathering point for some of the 20th Century's most radical artists is in need of urgent repairs, a charity has said.

The studio at Charleston in Firle, East Sussex, was built in a chicken shed in 1925 by artists Vanessa Bell, Duncan Grant and Roger Fry.

It was only intended to be a temporary space but has become a place of global importance, the Charleston Trust said.

The trust has launched its Studio 100 campaign to raise £250,000 towards the "survival of this extraordinary space".

The total cost of the project is about £470,000, with support already secured from Arts Council England.

Nathaniel Hepburn MBE, director and chief executive at Charleston, said: "The studio at Charleston is a place of global importance – a space where art, life and community came together in radical new ways.

"By supporting Studio 100, donors will help us secure this remarkable building for the next century, making sure its history continues to inspire artists and visitors alike."

The charity said it needed to conserve to the studio's roof, windows and doors, and stabilise fragile painted walls and floors.

It will also install a monitoring system to reduce humidity and control the temperature, it said.

Work is scheduled to take place from November 2026 to April 2027, while art pieces in the studio by Bell and Grant are exhibited at Tate Britain.