Open Art Spaces: Kensington & Fulham

A Pocket Arts production 

9th - 18th October 2015

 

Written and reviewed by Nicolle Brisbane

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pocket Arts is a company dedicated to reviving the artsworld in West London. The team has over 20 years of experience in producing and managing arts projects and festivals. They create and manage evet programmes for clients such as local authorities and charitites, as well as devising and running art activities in West London. Much like Artelier, they strive to promote local community engagement projects and sustainable networks for artists, designers, and makers. We partner with local authorities, community associations, charities and traders networks to bring an accessible cultural offering to local areas, providing cultural regeneration through the animation of unusual spaces. 

 

Their Open Art Spaces, give artists a chance to exhbit their work in the very places they create them. Whether it's in your bedroom, living room, boat, cafe, studios, and unique spaces - artists are able to invite audiences into their creative spaces, to explore their creations. The exhbition is targeted at artists in the Fulham and Kensington areas in order to promote creativity in the West of London. 

 

We got a chance to interview Lucy Beaumont, founder of Pocket Arts, and explore her experiences in the arts world.

 

ARTELIER: What inspired Pocket Arts?

LUCY: Discovering the number of creative people in the Kensington & Fulham areas, through doing a Christmas pop-up in Earls Court... Plenty of culture vultures looking for interesting arty goings on in their own neck of the woods but it seemed there was a gap that local authorities just didn't have the resources to fill.

 

ARTELIER: What is your company’s ethos?

LUCY: We like to bring people together and make things happen.

VISION - We work to support and develop the arts and creative communities in West London, creating links and collaborations between local artists and the neighbourhood

VALUES - collaborative, supportive, local, commercial

PERSONALITY - accessible, engaging, creative, exciting, professional

AUDIENCE - culture vultures, socially conscious, locally minded, investors in the arts.

 

ARTELIER: What projects do you have going on? 

LUCY: Currently working towards an exhibition and events in a pop-up space in Chelsea. And then opening registration to the annual Open Art Spaces in October. 

 

ARTELIER: What is your favourite thing about the Arts world?

LUCY: The variety. 'The Arts' covers so much - from film to dance, from pottery to writing - but also welcomes such a variety of people

 

ARTELIER: Did you have any fears going into the Arts industry?

LUCY: Yes and No... Yes, it's always hard to project how you'll do financially and always a worry at first that you'll not be able to pay the rent! But no because I knew it was right. I knew I would wake up every day excited about work and get to work alongside some very special, inspiring people. People working within the Arts Industry tend to do their jobs out of love and passion, rather than for the money and career, and that makes it a very exciting world to work in.

 

ARTELIER: How do you spend your time when you’re not working?

LUCY: I love music and dance and am a member of the City Academy Diva Dance company. I like keeping fit and being outdoors, so escaping from London to go walking or surfing with my boyfriend whenever possible

 

ARTELIER: Do you have any advice for young artists starting out?

LUCY: Put yourself out there - try and meet as many people and pick as many brains as possible. It's surprising how many people want to share their experiences - good and bad - and who want to help others. We're a strong believer in collaboration rather than competition, so link up with fellow artists or colleagues on projects whenever you can. Cooperatives and collectives are a great way to share ideas and gain support from peers. Finally, think big, then start small - it's easy to get carried away but its important to get the basics in place and right first e.g. website, systems for contacts, filing, invoicing, accounts etc. May seem boring but starting with the practical logistics will help further down the line. Working backwards from the big dream to where you are now will help put things in a sensible order

 

 

For more information visit:  http://www.openartspaces.co.uk/