Our Story
Banks Mill is a refurbished landmark building, only a few minutes’ walk from the city centre. Applicants should be individuals or graduates starting out, or recently established in business working in the creative industries such as artists, designers and makers.
There are 38 studios ranging from 65 square feet to 315 square feet which can be used as either clean or dirty workspaces. The studios are spread over five floors and are open daily (except certain Bank Holidays) from 5am until midnight.
What we offer:
- One-to-one business support sessions
- Free membership to the East Midlands Chamber of Commerce
- Opportunities to network through peer support groups and monthly meetings
- Promotion of your business through our monthly e-newsletter, social media channels and profile on our website
- Option to exhibit through our annual Open Studios event, solo foyer shows, or as part of a number of co-ordinated Banks Mill group exhibitions
- Affordable, stepped rental charges
Virtual Tour
Take a virtual tour of Banks Mill here or contact us to arrange a visit.
A History of Banks Mill
Banks & Sons Ltd, Elephant Works on Bridge Street, Derby were manufacturers of made-up textiles and retailers of tents, blinds, leather goods, coal bags, tarpaulins and twines, as well as having an extensive tent hire business. It’s not known when the business was shut down and the building left in disrepair.
You can read the memoirs from former employee George Oldknow from September 1935 here; perhaps the car parked in the yard was owned by Mr Short?
At some point the University of Derby purchased the site and in 1998, with the help of funding from Southern Derbyshire Chamber and English Partnership the building was renovated into the studios you see today, officially opening on 1 October 1999 by Dr Michael Porter.
Meet the Team
