Weymouth College gallery project officially launched as students host end of year exhibition

Crowds at the official launch of Weymouth College’s sustainable gallery project

Weymouth College combined its students’ end of year art exhibition with the official launch of an exciting project to build a new gallery on campus.

Students across all levels of Art, Design and Photography courses are currently exhibiting their work in an exhibition entitled ‘Interwoven’ throughout the College’s art department.

It is hoped in future, they will be able to display their work in a purpose built, sustainable gallery on the College campus.

The gallery will be built using recycled and reclaimed materials by community volunteers – creating minimum impact on the environment but with maximum creativity!

As well as showcasing the work of talented art students, the gallery will be open to the community and will feature the work of local artists.

Weymouth College has committed £15,000 towards the project and is currently running a fundraising campaign for the remaining £15,000.

The College has been working on the project with architectural firm Newmakers Bureau, B-Side Arts Festival, Houseworks, The Arts Development Company and other stakeholders for several months, and the project was officially launched at the opening of the ‘Interwoven’ exhibition this week.

The proposed octagonal shape of the gallery was mapped out in real size on the site where it will be built, on a currently unused grass area close to the College’s art department and Bay Theatre.

Plans by Newmakers Bureau were on display and visitors were able to make donations to the project and suggest new names for the gallery.

Visitors take a look at plans for the gallery, which will be built on campus using entirely recycled and reclaimed materials

Jenny Stiling of Weymouth College’s Board of Governors thanks those who have supported the project so far

Former Weymouth College student, Jodie House, managing director of community arts organisation Houseworks Dorset, also ran a collaging workshop throughout the evening, reflecting the sessions she has recently been hosting with local young people, investigating photographs of landscapes and buildings in Weymouth and the shapes and shadows that they create, translating these into bold, colourful collages to inspire the gallery exterior.

Jenny Stiling, a member of the College’s Board of Governors, and Martin Oliver, Director of Curriculum, both made speeches thanking those who had supported the project so far and emphasised how the gallery could benefit the whole community.

Mr Oliver said: “This is not just about creating an opportunity and resource for our students; we’re looking much wider than that to create a space to showcase the talents of local artists and the wider community.

“This has been a long-time coming for staff, for us to see it actually marked out on this site, and this is hopefully the icing on the cake for our fantastic department for creative industries, which has seen some great achievements in recent years.

“It will be a focal point for the local community and we’re really excited for the next steps.”

There were queues out the door as students’ parents, families and friends flocked to the College on Monday evening for the opening of the ‘Interwoven’ exhibition and gallery project launch.

Several students were also presented with awards for the work they were exhibiting.

The exhibition will remain open in the art block until June 28^th and the public are welcome to come and view the work.

You can find out more about the proposed gallery and support the fundraising campaign at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/weymouth-college