Empty shops to be turned into art spaces

1 day ago

Daisy BodkinGloucestershire

News image — Gloucester Arts and Social Projects work with local artists in the city

Gloucester Arts and Social Projects A quirky art piece made up of colourful objects such as tennis rackets and hoola hoops, pieced together. Two people are admiring the piece, a woman in a long blue dress with sunglasses and a pink hat and a man in a green top and beige shorts with a grey baseball cap. The art piece is outside, other activities are taking place in the background. — Gloucester Arts and Social Projects work with local artists in the city

An arts organisation has launched a year-long project to fill vacant shops with temporary art galleries.

Gloucester Arts and Social Projects (Gasp) will deliver Meanwhile in Gloucester, a free programme of art events and exhibitions created with residents. It is supported by Arts Council England through an £84,300 National Lottery Project Grant.

Phillipa Milne from Arts Council England said they "recognise that cultural engagement has been too low for too long" in the city.

"I'm excited to see the shop units draw new audiences to the high street, sparking conversations between artists and residents about the value of in-person connection," she added.

The project follows research carried out by the University of Gloucestershire which highlighted how the use of vacant spaces could help bring life to town centres undergoing long-term structural changes.

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Gloucestershire Arts and Social Projects Four women standing outside a grey building. The lady on the left is wearing a grey hoodie and black trousers. The lady next to her on the right is wearing a denim jacket and black leggings. The lady on the right to her is wearing a denim jacket and black jeans and the lady on the very left is wearing a blue dress with a leopard print belt wrapped round. They are all smiling. — Creatives are working together to bring life to empty spaces

Gasp will take up residence in the Eastgate Shopping centre, creating an art gallery and three studios for emerging artists.

It will then work with local creatives and young people to bring artworks and events to the city.

The organisation has previously transformed unused spaces in Gloucester into cultural and communal experiences.

Its co-founder and director Hannah Thomson said the feedback from this showed "residents want to see more contemporary art exhibitions in the city, and have more opportunities to take part in creative activities".

"Visitors were delighted to see the creative use of empty shops that have long stood empty," she added.

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