The Birley - Bringing New Art to Preston

The local economy

Our exhibitions and events brought people into the city centre, helping the nightime economy. We were able to pay all the artists exhibiting their works, helping contribute to a more sustainable cultural ecology in Preston

Arts, culture & heritage

We've been able to bring contemporary art, performance and moving image works to Preston's public which ordinarily would not have been seen in the city. We have been able to pay all of our artists to exhibit their work in our gallery spaces, and also pay our invigilators to look after the work while we have been open. The fundraising/crowdfunding process and the open call for exhibition proposals generated a great deal of interest in the Birley, and through the networking opportunites which have arisen from this increased exposure, have begun working towards other collaborative projects with artists and spaces in the north. The work we have achieved in the last year has put us in better standing and given us greater visibility within the city, helping us to maintain a foothold within the 'Harris Quarter' of the city - now being developed by the council into the city's main cultural neighbourhood. This program of exhibitions and events has provided us with a platfrom from which we can now credibly fundraise in the future.

Activity, health and leisure

Online searches provide numerous examples of studies suggesting strong links between art and mental wellbeing, and further to that, social cohesion. We are proud to have played a part in that story for Preston.