Temporary exhibition open to all

Tuesday 25 January 2022

Art for Guernsey's new premises in the Old Quarter are now open and people are invited to visit to view the first exhibition and find out more about exciting plans for the island's new arts hub.

Situated in the former Scope and Laura Ashley store on Mansell Street, the space will eventually be home to a gallery, studios, educational facilities and much more.

For now, it is hosting various pieces of artwork created by five visiting street artists and a number of local art students and creatives. 

The new arts hub opened last week, but it will close to the public again at the end of February to allow extensive refurbishment, including removal of a number of large paintings on the walls which form part of the current exhibition. 

Art for Guernsey's David Ummels said excitement grew around the new arts hub as all those involved prepared for last week's launch event. Now the hub is open, he hopes people who showed an interest when the doors were still closed will come back and see the current exhibition and find out more about the long-term plans.

"In terms of the vision, of course there is a curating space for local and international artists," said Mr Ummels.

"We will have a virtual reality room, an art library and, most importantly, upstairs we will have a children's art wing in a room that will be an extension of a classroom for any schools willing to take it.

"We have an in-principle agreement with Education to invite on a less prescriptive basis art teachers with their group so they can come here - and we have a good history of collaborating with them and providing relevant art works for lessons. 

"Next door, upstairs, there will be a workshop and we are setting up an Art for Guernsey Academy with all the art students who received our scholarships to go to London.

"We have identified a skills gap between the secondary schools and art schools and university and we want to fill it. And we want to make sure that our young creatives can find a place to be inspired and strive - and when they go and study they have a surplus of skills and experience rather than a lack of exposure."

Pictured: Members of Art for Guernsey: (l to r) Wayne Bulpitt, Helen Bonner Morgan, David Ummels and Jock Petit.

The current exhibition features exclusive artwork created by Daniel Hosego, Teddy Baden, Leo Boyd, Vesna Parchet and Charlie Mcfarley. Another 17 UK-based street artists also sent over artworks for the gallery launch. The entire exhibition was created from scratch in less than a week. 

It was supported by a number of talented local students, who Mr Ummels said were given the task of creating something special with the bathrooms.

"Some of the masterpieces that you see on the walls have been done by the five artists with the help of about 10 to 12 art students," he said.

"They came every day of the week. They learnt from the best. There was a bit of a mentoring scheme where they helped them to deliver the artwork and that experience is invaluable."

The exhibition runs until 20 February at Art for Guernsey in Mansell Street. It is free to enter.

Pictured top: David Ummels, in front of one of the exhibits at the new arts hub.