Fabrica Gallery has opened its doors to the public as an accessible artist’s studio, enabling everyone to get involved with art. The project, entitled “Putting Ourselves in the Picture”, is taking place until August 26th, and encourages all members of the public to come in and explore their own creativity. The exhibition is a collaboration with Project Art Works, the UK’s leading artist-led organisation supporting children, young people and adults with complex support needs.
The exhibition explores two fundamental questions: “who gets access to creative space?” and “who’s work is selected and considered worthy of public viewing?”. Fabrica has tackled these two questions by breaking down the exhibition hall into two separate spaces – the first being an accessible studio where the public can come in and create, and the second displaying work made by the public over the course of the exhibition.
Director of Project Art Works, Kate Adams, described what the exhibition aims to overcome:
The human rights approach is predicated on the idea that everyone has a right to participate in art in culture.
We just need to work hard to find the right approach.
This exhibition has such a fundamentally inclusive approach both to the making of art, and what’s shown and how it’s shown.
The gallery has commissioned three different artists, Sara Dare, Annis Joslin and Jo Offer, to work alongside the public over the course of the exhibition. The artists are hosting many activities that encourage interaction between visitors.
Liz Whitehead, the Director of Fabrica, expressed her aim for the exhibition:
The exhibition is a statement, a call, perhaps, to broaden our view of who might be an artist.
In doing so we’ll end up with a much richer and broader range of artistic product, and why wouldn’t we want that?
Putting Ourselves In The Picture @ Fabrica Gallery: 13th July – 26th August. Admission Free. Wednesday – Saturday, 1pm – 6pm. Sunday & Bank Holidays 2pm – 6pm. 40 Duke St, Brighton BN1 1AG
