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Opportunity for Bristol Artist-led groups at the Watershed
A new development at Watershed
Over the past year, Watershed has been looking into reworking their immediate environment to extend the impact of Watershed into the public realm. It has acquired the head lease on the Grade II* E&W Sheds enabling long term control and the aim is to create a multi function location with a lively ‘Covent Garden’ feel which acts as an attractive gateway to Harbour-side.
The aims are: * Secure the future of Watershed Media Centre as a cultural hub and project the lively creative activity into the public realm; * Create a ‘landmark’ sustainable location which Bristol is proud of; * Present an attractive, inclusive, accessible and secure public space 24/7; * Create new space to accommodate the growing demand for clustering and events, to house a new Creativity and Innovation Centre, and to animate the Anchor Road frontage. Watershed now has access to the former space leased by the ‘Red Room’ bar (on the ground floor next to the Watershed foyer).
This space will house the Tourist Information Centre with currently 250,000 visitors a year. Within this – about a third of the available space - will be based a unique retail space entitled Made in Bristol, for artist-led groups to showcase their artwork. This builds upon the ‘art-market’ feel created by the Spike Print Studio stalls, set up outside in the covered walkway in August 07 and 08. Watershed want to view the available space as fluid and flexible, and reflecting the communities, talents and culture of Bristol.
We anticipate the bulk of the work for sale will be 2-D ie artists cards, artists books, prints, paintings and T-shirts. There will be some cabinets for small 3-D work and jewellery. Due to anticipated high demand, the spaces will be available for an initial 12 week period to 4 artist groups, starting from 1st December 2008 and running to end February 2009. Another 4 groups will then showcase their work from beg of March until end of May 2009, and so on. We will hold openings at the beginning of each let, and organise appropriate events that highlights and informs the work that you all do. It is anticipated that artists will organise themselves to be available at busy periods (ie weekends) to talk to the public about their work.
II will be ‘curating’ the space, as it were, in this initial pilot phase, and would like to invite you to register your interest in being involved in this great, unashamedly commercial opportunity, by filling in the enclosed form, and send to nicol.gill@yahoo.co.uk by 5pm on Friday 10th October 2008. The form also asks for your opinion on what kind of financial relationship with Watershed would suit you best, and why. I would also like to invite you to see the space; hear more about future plans and ask questions on Tuesday 14th October 2008 at 6 pm, at the new space. if you have any questions before this, please email me.
Best wishes Gill (Nicol) Freelance Project co-ordinator for Made in Bristol