The idea
Asylum art gallery in Chapel Ash has been running four years providing a free space to develop and showcase artwork.
Weve worked with Gecko providing internships to Erasmus students and local Universities and colleges, supported local communities events and celebrations such as City of sanctuary, The Junction Festival, 'Untold' the 70th anniversary of the partition of India and Pakistan, exhibited group postgraduate shows, regular poetry evenings, live music with local bands and held discussions after political activist events.
We have another 12 months of events and mentoring planned and would like to keep offering this as a free space as our remit our priority is to give free access to those who don't have the capacity to go through mainstream institutions.
We have just formed as a company with a view to sustaining funding for core costs but any donations made will continue our work until this is secured and allow us to continue offering this free resource for regeneration.
What we'll deliver
- Mentoring and exhibition by students of Wolverhampton University - their first professional solo show
- Joseph chamberlain sixth form colleges first professional show at the end of a month's mentoring
- 6 more free places to exhibit for local artists
- Space for the Junction festival to provide local music
- Free space for local artists to arrange workshops
- A free workshop delivered by Royal college of art students
- A free space for local bands to rehearse and arrange events
- A safe space for mental health or disabilities to develop art, showcase overseen by a disability support worker
Why it's a great idea
There are no free spaces to exhibit and run events in the area where you will be supported by a skilled curator, a professional artist and with the capacity to support mental health and disability.
Our assistant curator has qualifications and 3 years experience as a disability support worker in education.
We have run over 100 exhibitions and it is integral we continue to provide space where communities have the freedom to express themselves without worrying about filling a commercial galleries remit.
Steps to get it done
- Securing 6 more artists for a free exhibition
- Pay 12 months rent
- Install a new sound system for use by artists and musicians
- Set up the free workshop with Royal college students
