Southampton Forward previously announced that Jane Austen’s travelling writing desk will be coming back to Southampton for the first time since she lived in the city over 200 years ago, providing literary and history fans the chance to see up close what she used to pen early drafts of now internationally famous novels.

The desk, which will go on display at God’s House Tower, home to ‘a space’ arts, will be available to visit from November 2024 through to February 2025. The exhibition is a collaborative endeavour that has seen the charity work with a number of organisations across the city.

The news of the loan and upcoming exhibition signposts Southampton’s journey to becoming a cultural and creative hub within the Solent region and the Daily Echo wanted to get under the skin of the city’s arts and culture story.

Daily Echo: Dan CrowDan Crow

Dan Crow, Director of God’s House Tower, sat down to talk about why having a vibrant, creative community in the city is so important and the leaps and bounds the city has come in nurturing its artistic talent over the last two decades. provided his insight through his own work and involvement at the forefront of the city’s artistic community over the past 25 years.

Dan said: “I came to Southampton to study at Solent in the mid-90s. By the time I graduated in 1999, I knew I wanted to stay, as I’d met some great like-minded people, but as a painter just starting out it was really hard to make a living as an artist.

“At that time, artistic spaces were hard to come by or just really expensive. I was going from make-shift studio to make-shift studio and working out of places like garages. I wanted more of a base not just for myself, but for other artists too.”

Originally from Essex, Dan stayed on after university to form his first creative endeavour, a gallery and exhibition space on Old Northam Road.

“It was a little rough and ready, but it was ours and it was cheap!” Dan continued, “There is often a sense that the arts are only for those who have come from a more privileged background, but we wanted to make sure they were available and accessible to everyone.

“Where we were just starting out, everything was so exciting, and we could be really experimental. Soon we found there was a real appetite for what we were doing, and we started applying for funding and working with the local authority more. That’s when things really started to change.”

Dan established ‘a space’ arts in 2000 with an ethos of ‘by artists for artists’. ‘a space’ arts is a visual arts organisation that supports and inspires artists, audiences, and communities through an ambitious programme of exhibitions and artist opportunities. During the charity’s infancy, Dan still felt slightly on the fringe; “It wasn’t until 2002 that we felt we really moved into the heart of the city and started connecting with a wider audience. A seminal moment came when we launched ArtVaults in 2004. Using the city’s rich history, it was an exhibition of contemporary works of art by emerging artists throughout the mediaeval vaults of Southampton’s old town.

Dan said: “We were incredibly proud of ArtVaults. Even at the time, it felt innovative, and it grew over four summer seasons.”

ArtVaults was a popular event, with over 69,000 visitors enjoying the opportunity to explore Southampton’s heritage and discover new works of art.

It was after this that ‘a space’ arts moved into the Bargate, marrying its artistic vision with a celebration the city’s heritage. Dan said: “If we were teenagers at Old Northam Road, then we had grown up quite a bit by the time we got to the Bargate. We were working more with bigger organisations and starting to get funding from the Arts Council.”

Alongside these other projects, Dan also launched Arches Studios, an affordable studio space that 21 up-and-coming artists call home.

‘a space’ arts has gone from strength to strength with its latest move to God’s House Tower, which is part-funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund. Dan said: “It’s been home since 2019; it’s a much larger space, and we’re really grateful to have it. Where we are a smaller organisation, we can be really fluid with our exhibitions and how we use the space. I still get excited by it”.

Daily Echo: Gods House Tower

God’s House Tower offers a dynamic programme of exhibitions, events, and activities. 

Through inventive and imaginative programming, GHT shares and celebrates its own special Southampton story through the permanent heritage exhibition, ‘stories behind the stones.’

Dan said: “Our changing programme of exhibitions and activities creates opportunities for artists and audiences, opens up conversations, and creates access for those facing barriers to heritage and culture. 

“The programme empowers communities to be creators and develop a lifelong interest in arts and culture, along with diversifying Southampton’s creative community and creating role models to inspire a new generation creatives in the city.

“Life and Southampton would be very bland without the arts.”

  • SO: Cultured is a new regular feature of the Daily Echo in partnership with Southampton Forward, set up in the wake of the 2025 UK City of Culture bid.