Charleston in Firle, East Sussex, has just launched Studio 100, a major fundraising campaign to safeguard the unique studio, created a century ago by artists Vanessa Bell, Duncan Grant and Roger Fry.
The modernist home and studio of the painters Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, Charleston was a gathering point for some of the 20th century’s most radical artists, writers and thinkers known collectively as the Bloomsbury group.
Described by The New York Times as “one of history’s most enduring and significant spaces… that not only changed the way we live but also changed the way we see places”, the studio remains a powerful testament to the Bloomsbury group’s radical vision of art, life and domestic creativity.
From chicken shed to pioneering art studio
The studio, originally constructed in 1925 from what had once been a chicken shed, was never designed to last and now shows significant signs of wear. Urgent conservation is required to repair the roof, windows, doors and stabilise the fragile painted walls and hand-laid floors created by Bell and Grant. New environmental control measures will also be installed, including monitoring systems to reduce humidity and stabilise temperature alongside new sun blinds and infrared window film to manage light and heat.
A once-in-a-lifetime restaging of Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant’s studio, relocated for a landmark exhibition at Tate Britain between November 2026 and April 2027, offers the perfect opportunity to carry out this vital work. The total project cost is £470,000, with support already secured from Arts Council England and support in kind from Tate. Charleston is now seeking to raise the remaining £250,000 to ensure the survival of this extraordinary space.
Ensuring the long-term survival of Charleston’s heritage
Alongside conservation, the project forms part of wider capital work across the whole house at Charleston in Firle, to ensure its long-term resilience and accessibility. Sustainability upgrades will replace the existing oil heating system with a cleaner, more efficient electric alternative, reducing Charleston’s reliance on fossil fuels. The roof and windows will be repaired, as well as the restoration of fragile painted surfaces, wooden floors and ceiling panels.
Improved access will be delivered through upgraded Wi-Fi, supporting free digital guides via the Bloomberg Connects app, helping future generations engage with the story of this remarkable space.
Nathaniel Hepburn MBE, Director and Chief Executive of 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.”
If you want to support Studio 100, see https://www.charleston.org.uk/studio-100/
For more information about current and future exhibitions, at Charleston in Firle and Lewes, see https://www.charleston.org.uk/whats-on/?type=exhibition
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