Empty Government buildings could be used to create collaborative workspaces for local artists, the Government has said.

Delivering the 2023 Throne Speech, Rena Lalgie, the Governor, announced that the Government intended to use existing buildings to create “venues for new artistic offerings”.

Ms Lalgie said: “Amid all that challenges our community, artists and ‘creatives’ continue to be inspired and contribute to the tapestry of life.

“Following the launch of the Cultural Heritage Policy for Bermuda and as part of the consultation in which the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sport has engaged, the concept of ‘makerspaces’ has been advanced and is to be embraced by the Government as an effective means by which to provide collaborative workspaces within existing buildings.

“These spaces will incorporate technology and tools to enable artists and creatives to hone their crafts, and will extend to musicians and actors, film makers and other visual artists.

“Unused government buildings can provide the venue for new artistic offerings and the encouragement of artists of all ages.”

Makerspaces — locations intended for people to come together to co-create, share resources and work on projects — have already been introduced in other jurisdictions.

Initiatives to establish temporary art galleries in empty retail space have also been launched in several cities including New York, Chicago and Paris.

The Government also noted that it would continue its work to restore derelict homes across the island to address the need for affordable housing through the Bermuda Housing Corporation.

“The ebbs and flows of the market do not take account of those who need help to start the journey to home ownership or to maintain a stable living environment for themselves and their families,” Ms Lalgie said.

“Derelict homes will continue to be repurposed and refurbished and through the Bermuda Housing Corporation’s private sector rental programme and the ‘Home Start Programme’ more and more Bermudians will be housed in affordable, quality housing.”

A recent Department of Statistics Labour Force Survey report found that about one in eight houses may be vacant in Bermuda.

Out of the 1,551 households chosen for the survey, 181 were found to be vacant or derelict, approximately 11.7 per cent of the data set.