Artwork for sale to help boost plans for new arts hub

Monday 07 February 2022

Artwork on show at the first exhibition at Guernsey's new arts hub is for sale to raise money towards its refurbishment costs.

The current exhibition runs until 20 February. The gallery will then close for extensive works before reopening in October in one of the most significant developments in Guernsey's art scene for many years.

The building in Mansell Street was bought by a private benefactor and leased back to Art for Guernsey for 15 years on non-commercial terms. The charity - an art collective - will meet the costs of refurbishing and fitting out the building.

Art for Guernsey set a target of £350,000 to cover all costs. By the time the gallery was launched in January, it had already raised £150,000 through benefactors and supporters.

Jock Petit of Art for Guernsey said anyone purchasing artwork in the current exhibition will also be contributing towards the expensive refurbishment project which lies ahead this spring and summer. 

Mr Petit said the artwork for sale has been priced fairly. He said Art for Guernsey would be delighted if a purchaser wanted to pay more than the guide price for any item. Art for Guernsey will earn commission through each sale.

The artwork for sale varies from £25 to £5,000.

Pictured: Jock Petit of Art for Guernsey.

Some of the exhibits are too large to display in private residences. Some others are painted directly onto the walls of the building and they are likely to be lost when the refurbishment work starts in March.

Mr Petit said there are alternative ways to purchase a favourite part of the exhibit even if it cannot be physically taken home. 

"Because so much of the work is on the walls, we've come up with an idea to help people capture some of that for themselves," he said.

"We're suggesting that if they take a photo of the area of the wall and create their own composition from all the work in the building and bring it to us and say 'I'd love to have this as a print' then we'll develop that into a bespoke print for them."

There is no set cost for this service as the production costs are likely to vary.

Anyone is welcome at the new gallery until its first exhibition closes in a couple of weeks - whether to see the exhibition or speak to members of the Art for Guernsey team about their exciting long-term project. 

Pictured (top): Members of the Art for Guernsey collective and visiting street artists who created artwork currently being displayed at the new gallery in Mansell Street.