Artist-run spaces can be useful for professional artists to expand their careers, make new networks, or simply to organise exhibitions for themselves and their friends.  Running your own gallery can offer huge rewards both in your professional and personal life, offering exhibition and research project opportunities and gaining a better idea of the nature of art markets, whether financial or social.  But an artist-led space is much more than simply a gallery, or an opportunity to be in more shows.  This guide seeks to demystify the process of setting up an artist-led space and provides issues to consider before taking such a step.

This article was written by Russell Martin and originally appeared on the a-n website in June 2007.