Cubitt Archive

Cubitt is an artist-led organisation based in Angel, Islington. Since its founding in 1991, it has run as a co-operative led by its artists members, to comprise an internationally-recognised contemporary art gallery, Curatorial Fellowship and Civic Fellowship Programmes; a locally-focused education programme and 31 studios for professional artists. Over the years Cubitt has grown into a unique hub for the development in curatorial, artistic and educational practice in the visual arts, supported by a diverse community of practitioners while, in turn, supporting artists and curators.

Over the past 34 years, Cubitt has built an important archive that reflects its pioneering role in the contemporary art scene. This archive documents the organisation’s evolution—from early artist-organised exhibitions to curator-led programmes and shifts in its physical location.

The physical Archive includes documentation and exhibition material from over 20 years of activity, including a huge range of documents, correspondence, publications, ephemera, images, videos and other material related to the history and activities since foundation of the organisation to date. With individual items dating from 1988 to 2011, it covers all venues Cubitt has occupied: Kings Cross Studios, Goods Way, NW1 (1991-1993); Cubitt Street, WC1X (1993-1994); Caledonia Street, N1 (1994-1999) and Angel Mews, N1 (2001- present).

The historical archive is now complemented by an additional archive of digital-born material (emails, digital documents, digital media, etc.), which in recent years represents an ever-growing proportion of new content. The Cubitt Archive has been the focus of previous exhibitions and events, including the weekend event Just What Is It That Makes Today’s Artist-Run Spaces So Different, So Appealing? organised by Bart van der Heide in 2007, and a commission by Adam Chodzko utilizing the Cubitt Archive in its entirety and resulting in the work cell-a 2006 (2002).

Archive Research Project x Goldsmiths

Since 2016, Cubitt has partnered with the MFA Curating at Goldsmiths College to provide an exciting research and curatorial opportunity for two postgraduate students to delve into the Cubitt Archive and London art scene of the past 25 years. This opportunity is a self-driven, project-based initiative with mentoring by a Cubitt Artist member and the Gallery Manager, culminating in a final presentation for the public.

Marina Maranda | Cubitt Archive Placement 2025

Marina Miranda (1997, Mexico City) is an art historian and emerging curator. Her research interests span from personal memory and affect theory, to material culture, folklore and ritual. Previously she has worked as a bookseller and as a gallery assistant. In other roles she has collaborated on writing exhibition texts, semblances and website content for artists and private collections.