Article On Art Factory Closure

Well, I didn't expect to see myself quoted on the front page of the Norwich Evening News but there we are. Artists at the factory are desparately seeking studio space in or close to Norwich City. If you hear of anything, please do let me know.

NORWICH CITY OF CULTURE?

Here is the copy of a letter I've just sent to Norwich Evening News. It speaks for itself...

Dear Letters Editor

Probably because of the Norwich City Of Culture bid, nothing has been reported in the Evening News of the sudden closure of the Art Factory, the Old Bally Shoe Factory, Hall Road, Norwich.

While Tuckswood can still testify to the workers made redundant at the shoe factory, artists in all media, have used this amazing building for the last seven years, thanks to property developers and art sponsors Targetfollow.

Without this facility the huge city events, such as the Mayor's Carnival, could not have taken place. Norwich's 'Go Elephants' were assembled and many painted at the factory. Indeed, over the years, so many artists, organisations and institutions have used this unofficial city arts centre - City College Norwich, Norwich Art School and The Fringe Festival among them. The highly regarded Norwich 20 group of artists has staged regular exhibitions at the factory too.

Every art form, from painting and performance to film and sculpture, have been part of this brilliant building.

Without it, or a facility like it, I wonder how Norwich dare bid for 'City Of Culture' status? Norwich is a very attractive medieval town but nostalgia isn't art.

Presently, Norwich is a city of closure - not culture.

Art Factory Closure Article

There's an article on the closure of the Art Factory at South Norwich News.

Breaking News - Art Factory To Close

The last ever exhibition at the Old Bally Factory will open this weekend. The Art Factory Exhibition is part of Norfolk Open Studios...

After many years as the unofficial cultural centre of Norwich and Norfolk, The Art Factory (Old Bally Shoe Factory), Hall Road, Norwich is to close in June. The factory was home to the Norwich Fringe Festival and many practicing artists. Norwich 20 staged regular large scale exhibitions at the factory. It was the secret hideout of the Elephants last year and many theatre companies, community arts oganisations, film makers and performers have used this wonderful venue - including the Norfolk & Norwich Festival.

Over twenty Norfolk artists and groups take part in this year’s Norfolk Open Studios exhibition over three weekends from Saturday May 22 to Sunday June 6 at the Art Factory Studios (Old Bally Shoe Factory), Hall Road, Norwich, 10am to 4pm.

It is an exhibition of rich diversity. Joining established artists are young up and coming talents, together with work specially created for the event by those attending Sprowston Day Care Centre.

Painting, prints, sculpture, drawing, designer wear and collage will be on show and there will be an ‘interactive’ drawing wall for visiting children and adults to participate.

***

Artists taking part:-

Annette Rolston, Mike Fenton, Martin Laurance, Elizabeth Radford, Jane Miller, Geoffrey Lefever, Martin Battye, Ros Langford (and work by her students), Dugald Ferguson, Emma Hart, Laragh Spearman, Keith Pomeroy, Bonnie Woods, BoomBoomBaby, Rupert Mallin, Susan Morland, Kieter Jackson, Andrew Stephenson and Sprowston Day Care Centre Art Group.

Admission is free.

Preview evening - Friday, May 21st, 6pm to 9pm, all welcome.

Brighton Art Fair

I am showing work at the Brighton Art Fair, September 16 - 19 with Martin Laurance, Martin Battye, Katarzina Coleman, Fiona Roberts, Annette Rolston and Mike Fenton under the 'Norwich Factory' banner. Check out the Bright Art Fair website gallery.

Festival of Culture

A local group, Silo Arts, is involved in a superb festival in London, Festival of Culture, July 10 next. Do take a look.

OPEN STUDIOS EXHIBITION, ARTS FACTORY

THE BBC'S ELECTION YAWN

The BBC's Nick Robinson is fine in his reportage of the political class but hopeless in relating this class to the people who have created the parliamentary stalemate he and they claim as their own! For instance, Nick Robinson presumes 'we' want a stable government; that voters' intentions were to create a situation in which the big guns of Tory, Labour and Liberal create, for themselves, a government of "stability" to push through the biggest public spending cuts since World War II, drive down workers' pay like never before and make ordinary people pay for their crisis.

Indeed, what Nick Robinson doesn't tell you is that the majority voted to a) get Gordon Brown out of office and b) deny the establishment the means to push through their Greek-style cuts. Thereby, there is NO mandate for Cameron, Clegg and Brown to push through such cuts.

Stability? Nick Robinson is of course promoting stability for the political class and thereby himself. Such stability for the majority of us means more stress at work, massive job losses, privatised services and shattered lives.

The majority didn't vote for this untold 'stable' agenda. Let's keep it hung!

Message From The Editor...

Woz The Sun Wot Hung It!

Self Portrait (With Katz)

The Roller Coaster Of Life

Prelude?

Pick Up Thy Bed And Walk

ART FACTORY EXHIBITION

'B(u)oys and Flowers' by Dugald Ferguson which features in the exhibition



FROM NORFOLK LANDSCAPES TO CORSETS AND TAXIDERMY

This year the Art Factory Studios Exhibition features an array of art, from Norfolk landscape paintings to a display of designer corsets and work incorporating taxidermy.

Over twenty Norfolk artists and groups take part in this year’s Norfolk Open Studios exhibition over three weekends from Saturday May 22 to Sunday June 6 at the Art Factory Studios (Old Bally Shoe Factory), Hall Road, Norwich, 10am to 4pm.

It is an exhibition of rich diversity. Joining established artists are young up and coming talents, together with work specially created for the event by those attending Sprowston Day Care Centre.

Painting, prints, sculpture, drawing, designer wear and collage will be on show and there will be an ‘interactive’ drawing wall for visiting children and adults to participate.

Artists taking part:-
Annette Rolston, Mike Fenton, Martin Laurance, Elizabeth Radford, Jane Miller, Geoffrey Lefever, Martin Battye, Ros Langford (and work by her students), Dugald Ferguson, Emma Hart, Laragh Spearman, Keith Pomeroy, Bonnie Woods, BoomBoomBaby, Rupert Mallin, Susan Morland, Kieter Jackson, Andrew Stephenson, Sarah Cannell, Di Griffiths and Sprowston Day Care Centre Art Group.

Admission is free.

Preview evening - Friday, May 21st, 6pm to 9pm, all welcome.

CONTACT DETAILS: Rupert Mallin 07775 870392 - rupertmallin@supanet.com