| airspacegallery history |
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AirSpace is Stoke-on-Trent’s first Contemporary Art Gallery. As a newly formed arts organisation, based in Stoke-on-Trent our initative is to help develop the contemporary arts culture within the city. Our first objective was to utilise one of the many derelict buildings in order to create a contemporary arts venue. Exhibiting professional artists as well as developing artists, the project will cater for a range of contemporary art forms and artists, and be able to engage with the community. Alongside this we will develop studio spaces at the same site, in order to build a base for an artists community in the city. AirSpace’s main focus is to regenerate the Contemporary art scene and to assist in developing Stoke-on-Trent’s cultural outlook. AirSpace is located in a Victorian building in Broad Street Hanley, which sits within the Cultural Quarter and is a minutes walk from the main shopping centre. The Building itself dates back from 19th century and it was initially setup as a British Gas Lighting Company. The company was responsible for providing the city with public street lighting. The Property is now being taken on by the City Council. The building has a great sense of History and is apparent by the front the building, including the Milton tiles that can be found once inside the building. The building approximately 354 square metres and has a basement, ground floor, first floor and attic. The studio spaces will be the first available for contemporary artists. Therefore play a key role in developing an artistic community that is much needed in the city. Prior to this the gallery was based in an old factory formerly belonging to J H Weatherby and Sons. This building was based just outside of Hanley and was owned by Forth Estates Ltd. The building had great historical character and which made it a unique exhibition space. The idea for the project was developed while the two lead artists were studying for a Fine Art Degree at Staffordshire University, which is based in Stoke-on-Trent. Although enjoying the course and graduating with first class honours, the opportunities for exhibiting and for artists in general was minimal. Having received funding from Creative Network to research other venues in the UK, it was evident that Stoke-on-Trent is massively under developed within the contemporary art scene compared to likes of Norwich, Leeds and Edinburgh, as well as neighbouring cities Derby, Nottingham, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, and Sheffield. All have established Contemporary Art movements, and a vibrant community of artists. This research also highlighted that art and artists have contributed considerably towards the regeneration of these cities, often as a result of artists moving into the derelict spaces left by industry. The AirSpace Gallery opened on the 2nd of October with the exhibition Tide In/Tide Out. It was launched by a night of music and poetry on Friday the 22nd of September. The gallery has held eleven exhibitions within a year and half, each of which will have its own launch event, going under the names of “OnAir” and AirVideo”. AirSpace was also asked to hold NAN event by AN the artists information company. In may 2007 the gallery operation was moved to a council owned property in the Cultural Quarter, Number 4 Broad Street is a Victorian building from 1878 and has a frontage in the “Jacobethan” style. The AirSpace team sees this building as a new starting point and a chance to learn how develop into a more permanent gallery in Stoke on Trent. AirSpace hopes to be integral in the redevelopment of this building into a cultural asset, the gallery hopes to attract continued support from the local council and other funding bodies as being a key feature within Stoke on Trent’s cultural fabric. |
