Creative business survey

Did you know that there are 2,200 creative businesses in Barnet, Enfield, Haringey and Waltham Forest, employing up to 6,000 people? We know because that's how many we have on our database! The map below is based on their locations (to see a clearer version, click here).

Most are in the area centred on Haringey, but it is possible to identify four areas where there are slightly higher densities of creative businesses, coinciding with Town Centres, public cultural spaces and some clustering: Hornsey and Wood Green, Tottenham, Walthamstow, and Edmonton (the blue shaded ovals).

The highest concentration is in Stroud Green, Crouch End, Muswell Hill and Wood Green. This includes the old borough of Hornsey where, for those who can remember, Hornsey College of Art was situated (later merged into Middlesex University).

But what you probably don't know is that over a third of London's creative businesses can be found north of the Thames, in Westminster, Camden, Islington, Hackney, Haringey, Barnet and Enfield. That's 37,000 creative businesses, employing 148,000 people, almost half London's total creative-sector employment! What a fantastic asset for North London!

Survey results

At the end of last year we asked the businesses on our database to complete a simple online questionnaire. Here are the main results:

Half run their businesses from residential properties

50% chose their location for general environment and family/personal reasons, 30% for cost, and 16% for business opportunities

90% like being based in North London

Of the half who wanted to move (not necessarily out of North London), 60% expected to do so within the next year

Two-thirds of the businesses are optimistic about their future

Marketing and sales support are the top business need, followed by greater networking opportunities

For more details, see www.northlondonarts.info/business-survey.

Workspace

Our Four Greens listing of studios and workshops available for renting or buying in North London can be found at www.northlondonarts.info/workspace.

We've broken them down by borough and provided sizes, prices, contact details and photographs where we have them, so take a look if you're one of those businesses thinking of moving this year!

Project Space

John Jones, the artists' materials supplier at Morris Place, Stroud Green Road, N4 (near Finsbury Park station), is making 4,000 sq ft available as a flexible space for experimenting with large-scale artist projects and generating exhibitions.

To help fund it, they are having a sale of discounted art materials, reclaimed frames, artworks and office furniture on 23 February, 10-4pm, and 25-29 February by appointment only.

For more information about their Project Space, see www.johnjones.co.uk.

For other news items please see our website www.northlondonarts.info/News.